Fig. 2

Females consume more alcohol than males across EtOH concentrations at 2-, 4-, and 24-h timepoints on Day 4 access but have similar alcohol preference. A–C EtOH (top row) and water (bottom row) consumption at 2-h, 4-h, and 24-h time points on Day 4, 2-bottle choice (2-BC) access in 20% EtOH DID across cycles. A During the first 2 h, females rapidly escalated EtOH drinking and consumed more 20% EtOH (g/kg) than males during DID cycles 2, 5, and 7, with a trend towards increased consumption on cycles 4 and 6. There was no difference in water consumption between the sexes. B The sex difference in 20% EtOH consumption was even more robust for the first 4 h of Day 4 access, with females consuming more than males on DID cycles 2–5, and 8 and a trend towards increased consumption cycles 1, 6, and 7, with a trend towards a difference in water consumption between the sexes. C Females consumed more 20% EtOH (g/kg) than males during the 24-h period of Day 4 access on DID cycles 2–5, with a trend towards a difference in water between males and females. D–F EtOH (top row) and water (bottom row) consumption at 2-h, 4-h, and 24-h time points on Day 4, 2-bottle choice (2-BC) access in 10% EtOH DID across cycles. D During the first 2 h, females consumed more 10% EtOH (g/kg) than males on DID cycles 3, 4, and 6, with a trend towards increased consumption in cycles 2 and 7. There was no difference in water consumption. E During the first 4 h, females consumed more 10% EtOH (g/kg) than males during DID cycles 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7. There was no difference in water consumption. F During the 24-h access period, females consumed more 10% EtOH than males during DID cycles 2, 3, 6, and 7, with a trend toward increased consumption in cycle 8. Water consumption was overall higher in females compared to males. G–I Average EtOH preference in 20% and 10% DID at 2-h (G), 4-h (H), and 24-h (I) time points, showing that males and females similarly displayed higher EtOH preference for 10% compared to 20% EtOH. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, ****P < 0.0001 in 2xRM-ANOVA main effects and interactions of sex and DID cycle (A–F) and 2xANOVA main effects of EtOH concentration (G–I) and post hoc t-tests with H–S corrections. ^$P < 0.10 for post hoc t-tests with H–S corrections between M and F (A–F) and EtOH concentration within sex (G–I)