SURGICAL REMOVAL OF THE PREGASTRIC POUCH DOES NOT AFFECT VOLUNTARY ETHANOL-CONSUMPTION IN GOLDEN-HAMSTERS

Golden hamsters underwent either surgical removal of the pregastric po uch (PGX) or sham surgery. Following recovery from surgery, hamsters w ere given free access to 15% (v/v) ethanol solution for 40 days, and t hen to 30% ethanol solution fora further 32 days. PGX and sham-operate d hamsters ingested similar amounts of absolute ethanol throughout the study, with intake exceeding 15 g/kg/day when 30% ethanol solution wa s available. The failure to find a significant effect of surgical trea tment on ethanol intake was not attributable to a lack of statistical power, but rather suggests that other factors, such as the hamster's h igh levels of hepatic alcohol dehydrogenase, are responsible for the h amster's unusual tolerance for ethanol.