Aged female and male C57BL/6J mice have reduced alcohol self-administration and altered acute alcohol withdrawal compared to younger animals

INTRODUCTION: As the age of the world's population continues to increase it is important to investigate behaviors, such as alcohol consumption, that may negatively impact the health of the older population. MATERIALS: In the present study, aged, young adult and adolescent female and male C57BL/6J mice underwent a measure of acute alcohol withdrawal via a handling induced convulsion study followed by a drinking in the dark procedure to measure alcohol self-administration. RESULTS: We report that aged animals enter acute alcohol withdrawal later than younger animals as measured by later onset of handling induced convulsions. The later onset is likely due to reduced alcohol metabolism. Furthermore, aged animals consumed significantly less alcohol in the drinking in the dark paradigm but had similar blood alcohol concentrations compared to younger animals. DISCUSSION: The current work demonstrates for the first time differential alcohol self-administration and acute alcohol withdrawal in aged animals compared to younger animals.