Many unexplored complex cellular and organismal adaptations occur in response to the stress of alcohol exposure. The contribution of alcohol exposure to the development of chronic diseases, such as osteoporosis, heart disease and diabetes, is particularly relevant today, given the increased incidence of these diseases in our aging population. In this book, the pleiotropic effects of ethanol in animal and cell culture models are rigorously examined through a collection of detailed procedures written by experts in the field. Comprehensive and highly specific, this book strives to further spur investigators to delve into the complex and fascinating processes of the adaptive and maladaptive responses humans have developed to the consumption of alcohol.