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A53 - Investigating the Roles of Sex Chromosome Complement and Gonadal Status in a Binge Model of Ethanol Consumption
Sex differences in ethanol (EtOH) consumption are well established in rodent models, where females typically drink more than males, paralleling the narrowing gender gap in human alcohol use disorder (AUD) prevalence in recent decades.
A53 - Investigating the Roles of Sex Chromosome Complement and Gonadal Status in a Binge Model of Ethanol Consumption
Mentor: Anna Radke, Ph.D.
Sex differences in ethanol (EtOH) consumption are well established in rodent models, where females typically drink more than males, paralleling the narrowing gender gap in human alcohol use disorder (AUD) prevalence in recent decades. The Drinking in the Dark (DID) paradigm provides a reliable assay for binge-like drinking and escalation of intake in mice. Biological contributors to these sex differences include both gonadal hormones and sex chromosome complement. The Four Core Genotypes (FCG) model dissociates chromosomal sex (XX vs. XY) from gonadal phenotype (Sry+ vs. Sry–), enabling direct tests of how each factor influences motivated behaviors. Previous work demonstrates that removal of gonadal hormones alters binge-like and aversion-resistant drinking across both C57BL/6J and FCG mouse lines, highlighting a regulatory role for testosterone in EtOH intake. Using a single-bottle DID paradigm, the present study investigates how sex chromosome complement and gonadal status interact to shape binge-like EtOH consumption.