Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Gender Differences in Animal Studies

Implications for the Study of Human Alcoholism

  • Chapter
Recent Developments in Alcoholism

Part of the book series: Recent Developments in Alcoholism ((RDIA,volume 12))

Abstract

The reasons for gender differences in alcohol intake, responses to alcohol, and consequences of alcohol abuse in humans and in animals are poorly understood. Animal models for the study of alcoholism have been focused primarily on the study of male rodents, although researchers have observed that female rodents drink more alcohol than males and have sex-related differences in drinking patterns and responses to alcohol. In humans, the difference between the sexes is the opposite of rodents, with males drinking more than females. These results suggest differences between the sexes and differences between humans and rodents in drinking behavior and responses to alcohol which may be based on a complex interaction of social, genetic, hormonal, neurobiologic, and environmental factors. Four new studies are introduced to identify sex-distinct genetic influences in alcohol-related phenotypes, sex-based differences in behavioral responses to alcohol, sex differences in responses of brain reward systems to alcohol, and interactions of the anxiolytic effects of alcohol with steroids and the estrous cycle.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Frezza M, di Padova C, Pozzato G, et al: High blood alcohol levels in women. The role of decreased gastric alcohol dehydrogenase activity and first-pass metabolism. N Engl J Med 322:95–99, 1990.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Morgan MY, Sherlock S: Sex-related differences among 100 patients with alcoholic liver disease. Br Med J 1:939–941, 1977.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Blume SB: Women’s health: Issues in mental health, alcoholism, and substance abuse. Pub Health Rep Suppl Jul-Aug:38–42, 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Norton R, Dwyer T, MacMahon S: Alcohol consumption and the risk of alcohol related cirrhosis in women. Br Med J 295:80–82, 1987.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Lishman WA, Jacobson RR, Acker C: Brain damage in alcoholism: Current concepts. Acta Med Scand Suppl 717:5–17, 1987.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Harper C, Kril JJ: Neuropathology of alcoholism. Alcohol Alcohol 25:207–216, 1990.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Harper C, Smith NA, Kril JJ: The effects of alcohol on the female brain: A neuropathological study. Alcohol Alcohol 25:445–448, 1990.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Farid B, Clarke ME: Characteristics of attenders to community based alcohol treatment centre with special reference to sex difference. Drug Alcohol Depend 30:33–36, 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Richman JA, Rospenda KM: Gender roles and alcohol abuse. J Nerv Ment Dis 180:619–626, 1992.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Roman PM, Blum TC: Life transitions, work, and alcohol: An overview and preliminary data. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 16:149–158, 1992.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Gomberg ESL: Women and alcohol: Use and abuse. J Nerv Ment Dis 181:211–219, 1993.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Mercer PW, Khavari KA: Are women drinking more like men? An empirical examination of the convergence hypothesis. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 14:461–466, 1990.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Wilsnack RW, Wilsnack SC: Women, work, and alcohol: Failure of simple theories. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 16:172–179, 1992.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Li T-K, Lumeng L: Alcohol preference and voluntary alcohol intakes of inbred rat strains and the National Institutes of Health heterogenous stock of rats. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 8:485–486, 1984.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Adams N, Shihabi ZK, Blizard DA: Ethanol preference in the Harrington derivation of the Maudsley reactive and nonreactive strains. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 15:170–174, 1991.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Lancaster FE, Spiegel KS: Sex differences in pattern of drinking. Alcohol 9:415–420, 1992.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Harford TC, Parker DA, Grant BF, Dawson DA: Alcohol use and dependence among employed men and women in the United States in 1988. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 16:146–148, 1992.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Goodwin DW: Alcoholism and genetics. Arch Gen Psychiatry 42:171–174, 1985.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Cloninger CR, Christiansen KO, Reich T, Gottesman II: Implications of sex differences in the prevalences of antisocial personality, alcoholism, and criminality for familial transmission. Arch Gen Psychiatry 35:941–951, 1978.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Lex BW, Scholar W, Bower T, Mendelson JH: Putative type II alcoholism characteristics in female third DUI offenders in Massachusetts: A pilot study. Alcohol 8:283–287, 1991.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Pickens RW, Svikis DS, McGue M, et al: Heterogeneity in the inheritance of alcoholism. A study of male and female twins. Arch Gen Psychiatry 48:19–28, 1991.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Mishra L, Sharma S, Potter JJ, Mezey E: More rapid elimination of alcohol in women as compared to their male siblings. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 13:752–754, 1989.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Lancaster FE, Spiegel KS: Voluntary beer drinking by pregnant rats: Offspring sensitivity to ethanol and preference for beer. Alcohol 6:207–217, 1989.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Wilks J, Callan VJ, Austin DA: Parent, peer and personal determinants of adolescent drinking. Br J Addict 84:619–630, 1989.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Mankes RF, Glick SD, Van der Hoeven T, LeFevre R: Alcohol preference and hepatic alcohol dehydrogenase activity in adult Long-Evans rats is affected by intrauterine sibling contiguity. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 15:80–85, 1991.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Whichelow MJ, Erzinclioglu SW, Cox BD: A comparison of the diets of non-smokers and smokers. Br J Addict 86:71–81, 1991.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Taylor J, Harris N, Vogel WH: Voluntary alcohol and cocaine consumption in “low” and “high” stress plasma catecholamine responding rats. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 37:359–363, 1990.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Miller BA, Downs WR, Testa M: Interrelationships between victimization experiences and women’s alcohol use. J Stud Alcohol (Suppl) 11:109–117, 1993.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Lancaster FE: Gender differences in the brain: Implications for the study of human alcoholism. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 18:740–746, 1994.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Jacobson M: Dependence of the developing nervous system on nutrition and hormones, in Jacobson M (ed): 1991, Developmental Neurobiology, 3rd ed. New York, Plenum Press, p 285.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Akwa Y, Sananes N, Gouezou M, et al: Astrocytes and neurosteroids. Metabolism of pregnenolone and dehydroepiandrosteone. Regulation by cell density. J Cell Biol 121:135–143, 1993.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Kabbadj K, El-Etr M, Baulieu E-E, Robel P: Pregnenolone metabolism in rodent embryonic neurons and astrocytes. Glia 7:170–175, 1993.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Paul SM, Purdy RH: Neuroactive steroids. FASEB J 6:2311–2322, 1992.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Majewska MD: Neurosteroids: Endogenous bimodal modulators of the GABAA receptor. Mechanism of action and physiological significance. Prog Neurobiol 38:379–395, 1992.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Prince RJ, Simmonds MA: 5B-Pregnan-3B-ol-20-one, a specific antagonist at the neurosteroid site of the GABAA receptor-complex.Neurosci Lett 135:273–275, 1992.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Demirgoren S, Majewska MD, Spivak CE, London ED: Receptor binding and electrophysiological effects of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, an antagonist of the GABAA receptor. Neuroscience 45:127–135, 1991.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Wu F-S, Gibbs TT, Farb DH: Pregnenolone sulfate: A positive allosteric modulator at the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor. Mol Pharmacol40:333–336, 1991.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Maione S, Berrino L, Vitagliano S, et al: Pregnenolone sulfate increases the convulsant potency of N-methy-d-aspartate in mice. Eur JPharmacol 219:477–479, 1992.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Costa E, Guidotti A: Diazepam binding inhibitor (DBI): A peptide with multiple biological actions. Life Sci 49:325–344, 1991.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Hwang BH, Lumeng L, Wu JY, Li T-K: Increased number of GABAergic terminals in the nucleus accumbens is associated with alcohol preference in rats. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 14:503–507, 1990.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Morrisett RA, Swartzwelder HS: Attenuation of hippocampal long-term potentiation by ethanol: A patch-clamp analysis of glutamatergic and GABAergic mechanisms. J Neurosci 13:2264–2272, 1993.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Bao K, Middaugh LD, Becker HC, Shepherd CL: Effects of Ro 15-4513 and ethanol on operant behavior of male and female C57BL/6 mice. Alcohol 9:193–198, 1992.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Dawson D, Archer L: Gender differences in alcohol consumption: Effects of measurement. Br J Addict 87:119–123, 1992.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Texas Woman’s University, Denton, Texas, 76204

    Francine E. Lancaster

Authors
  1. Francine E. Lancaster
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York

    Marc Galanter (Associate Editor) (Associate Editor)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2002 Kluwer Academic Publishers

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Lancaster, F.E. (2002). Gender Differences in Animal Studies. In: Galanter, M., et al. Recent Developments in Alcoholism. Recent Developments in Alcoholism, vol 12. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-47138-8_12

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-47138-8_12

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-306-44921-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-306-47138-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation