ABSTRACT We studied whether the impact of aging could change alcohol drinking and whether the age of onset of alcohol drinking could have an influence on the later alcohol drinking patterns in experimental animals. Female C57BL/6N mice naïve to alcohol were tested at the ages of 4, 7, 10, 13 and 16 weeks for alcohol preference and alcohol drinking behavior. In the second experiment, the same alcohol-experienced mice at 4, 7, 10 and 13 weeks were retested at the age of 16 weeks for alcohol preference and alcohol drinking behavior, as compared with 16-week-old mice in the first experiment. Adolescent and aged mice showed higher alcohol consumption (g/kg/day) than young 4-week-old mice. Furthermore mice at 4 and 7 weeks in earlier alcohol onset showed higher alcohol preference (%) and alcohol consumption at 16 weeks old. Alcohol-experienced mice at 4 weeks old showed much higher alcohol consumption. The age of drinking onset appeared to be a strong predictor for voluntary alcohol drinking behavior under the present experimental conditions. Early onset of alcohol use has potentially affects late alcohol drinking behavior.
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