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UAA Scientists Measure Mobility of Drunk HamstersWhat do you get when you mix alcohol with small rodents? Drunk hamstersRelated Content
ANCHORAGE - What do you get when you mix alcohol with small rodents? Drunk Hamsters. What sounds like a joke is actually a research project at UAA, which is now in its third year. UAA psychology professor Gwen Lupfer has studied a species called Siberian Dwarf Hamsters for many years, but she never considered getting one drunk until a student with a research project urged her to give it a try. “She really wanted to look at alcoholism,” said Lupfer. “I told her there were lots of problems with giving hamsters alcohol. They probably wouldn’t drink it because most rodents refuse to drink alcohol.” Much to Lupfer’s surprise the hamsters didn’t turn up their noses to the alcohol. They actually seemed to have a taste for Everclear. When placed in a special box, the hamsters will turn a wheel so a sliding arm can deliver them a cup filled with alcohol. Lupfer said one surprising find is that the hamsters can drink quite a bit without becoming drunk. “It takes ten times what it would take a human for a hamster to show any signs of intoxication at all.” That’s if the hamster actually drinks the alcohol. Lupfer said the rodent’s livers metabolize it so quickly that it barely hits their bloodstream. So when researchers wanted to see how a really drunk hamster operates they injected the alcohol directly and waited to see what happened. The hamsters were measured on a scale called Wobble and Splay. They got marks for passing out, being able to stand, wobbling around or even just walking with a slight wiggle. But they were still able to recover quickly. Scientists said that’s because the hamsters have an amazing tolerance for alcohol. It’s hard to get them drunk and even harder for them to become addicted. This information will be used by UAA students for years to come and Lupfer said she has no doubt there will be plenty of volunteers. “Students love working with drunk hamsters. Not surprisingly, I get lots of people who want to come and work with the drunk hamsters.” To see more video of a drunk Siberian dwarf hamster, click here. |
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akrock said on Saturday, Jul 28 at 6:43 AM
No wonder our students are brain dead and we are on the bottom of the education scale. How is this going to help them after graduation? What did you learn in college? Ahhh, that it takes a lot to get a hamster drunk unless you inject the poison directly into their system.
97799391Wes Craske said on Saturday, Jul 28 at 1:21 AM
I've never thought of myself being an animal rights person; to me this "experiment," of giving a deadly drug to a little critter is inhumane. I agree with Arleta: knock it off. I have a hamster and his name is Houdini because he is always trying to escape. He is good at it, too. I used to have a flying squirrel brought to us as the smallest baby; it wouldn't have lived if we hadn't fed it with a bottle and a small nipple. One of my greatest pets ever--one of the family because we are all he knows. Rodents aren't to be abused. Shame on you!
97780356FIshcake21 said on Saturday, Jul 28 at 1:13 AM
So... this is what my tuition is paying for. Something so obvious that you can just wiki and use common sense. BTW i know her... I don't like her :D
97780116james said on Friday, Jul 27 at 11:30 PM
great story, i hate hamsters, make them suffer!! just kidding, but good story thoug
97776416Arleta said on Friday, Jul 27 at 9:37 PM
This is stupid and even worse, it is cruel. We already know that alcohol impairs, destroys, kills. This is not going to teach us anything new about booze. If you really want to see the effects of booze, then just look around you at fellow humans instead of a cage with a little innocent animal that's now been trained to drink the poison. This is blatently cruel and inhumane.
97771446TedtheBear said on Friday, Jul 27 at 7:11 PM
Why is this science? It should be common sense, no? Drunken hamsters!! Make sure they get the best Cognac!!!
97763486Rick said on Friday, Jul 27 at 7:06 PM
So I admit that I didn't read the article, but I'm guessing that the mobility of drunk hamsters was impaired, right? I wonder how that would translate into their driving abilities? If only there could be a study about that!
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