Similar to our previous experiments (Rimondini et al. 2002), exposure induced blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) in the range of 150–300 mg/dl, which fell to undetectable levels within 5 h during the alcohol-off period. Signs of mild withdrawal, such as tail stiffness and piloerection, were observed during the off intervals by the end of the 7-wk exposure period, but withdrawal intensity never reached seizure levels. As reported previously (Sommer et al. 2008), exposed animals showed a more than 2-fold increase of voluntary alcohol intake compared to controls (3.8±0.35 vs. 1.44±0.28 g/kg.d, mean±S.E.M. ; F1,20=12.7, p<0.001).
