Figure 1: Binge alcohol drinking and avoidance behavior fluctuate with E2 status across the estrous cycle.

a) Representative images of vaginal epithelial cells across the estrous cycle. b) Ovarian aromatase (AROM) protein expression in female mice categorized as proestrus compared to metestrus status females (N’s = metestrus 7, proestrus 7). c) Plasma E2 concentrations in proestrus and metestrus status females (N’s = metestrus 4, proestrus 4; each N represents a pooled sample from five mice). d) Whole-brain E2 concentrations in proestrus and metestrus status females (N’s = metestrus 10, proestrus 9). e) Drinking in the Dark (DID) binge drinking paradigm. f) Average 2-hour consumption of EtOH across cycles of DID (N’s = 27 F, 7 M). g) First EtOH access (N’s = high E2 8, low E2 9, M 11). h) Average 2-hour consumption of sucrose across cycles of DID (N’s = 15 F, 15 M). i) First sucrose access consumption (N’s = high E2 6, low E2 7, M 7). j) % Time spent in the center of the open field (OF; N’s = high E2 6, low E2 13, M 10). k) Distance traveled in the OF (N’s = high E2 6, low E2 13, M 10). l) % Time on the light side of the light:dark box (LDB; N’s = high E2 7, low E2 12, M 10). m) % Time in open arms of the elevated plus maze (EPM; N’s = high E2 7, low E2 11, M 10). n) Distance traveled in the EPM (N’s = high E2 7, low E2 11, M 10).