Oral Chronic Ethanol Administration to Rodents by Agar Gel Diet

BACKGROUND: Chronic ethanol administration to rodents requires specially designed equipment and is labor intensive. Here we report a new procedure. METHOD: A commercial liquid diet preparation was made into a gel by addition of 0.5% agar. The gel, containing 5.3% ethanol, was offered in Falcon tubes equipped with a feeding opening. RESULTS: The gel consumption by C57/Bl mice resulted in high blood ethanol levels (average 43 mM). After 6 weeks, marked liver steatosis and significantly increased serum alanine aminotransferase levels had developed. CONCLUSIONS: Administration of ethanol in a nutritionally adequate gel provides a simple method for studies on chronic ethanol effects in rodents.