The alcohol-deprivation effect in hybrid mice.

Hybrid mice (F1 CBA x C57Bl/6) after prolonged access to saccharin-menthol flavored 30% alcohol (FA) were deprived of it on two occasions, followed by test choices between (1) FA and water, and (2) FA and similarly flavored water. Although many mice failed to show deprivation-induced increases in FA intake, the mean rate of FA drinking during the first 1.5 h of renewed access was significantly increased even in the second test. Comparisons between the two tests suggest that flavor factors are generally less important than ethanol-seeking behavior.