ETHANOL DRINKING IN SOCIALLY HOUSED SQUIRREL-MONKEYS

This study proposes a method to assess voluntary alcohol drinking in s ocially living squirrel monkeys, Group-housed squirrel monkeys were in duced to drink a sucrose solution and subsequently an ethanol/sucrose solution in an experimental chamber attached to the home colony room, allowing the daily intake to be monitored for each individual without disrupting the social context. Sucrose concentration (0.03-0.6M, corre sponding to 1-20%) and ethanol concentration (0-4%) were gradually inc reased in tap water and in a 0.6 M (ca. 20%) sucrose solution during d aily 30-min and 10-min sessions, respectively. Blood ethanol levels ra nged from 10-50 mg/dl and remained below intoxication level, These exp eriments demonstrate that it is feasible to arrange conditions under w hich individual socially housed squirrel monkeys voluntarily drink a s weetened ethanol solution. Behav Pharmacol 1998; 9:363-367 (C) 1998 Li ppincott-Raven Publishers.