was to examine changes in gene expression associated with chronic ethanol drinking under binge-like ethanol drinking conditions. For comparison purposes, the effects of 24-hr free-choice drinking on gene expression were also determined. Gene expression changes were determined the next day after the binge-like group's last scheduled access period of the previous day. Ethanol was removed from both groups at the same time to control for the length of ethanol deprivation before brain tissue was harvested. The hypothesis to be tested was that chronic binge-like ethanol drinking would produce significant persisting effects on gene expression in the ACB of P rats that would not be observed with 24-hr continuous ethanol access drinking.
