title: Endocrine factors contributing to the ethanol preferences of rodents.
abstract: Groups of C57 Bl/6j mice (alcohol preferring) and DBA/2j mice (alcohol avoiding) were fasted for 24 hours and administered glucose. At 30, 120 and 300 minutes after glucose, the C57 Bl/6j mice had significantly higher levels of plasma glucose than the DBA/2j strain. These differences were observed in comparable groups given either forced access or no access to alcohol. In ad lib fed animals never exposed to alcohol, C57 Bl/6j mice had higher levels of plasma insulin than DBA/2j mice. Plasma levels of glucose and corticosterone were not significantly different in ad lib or fasted animals. The injection of insulin zinc protamine to DBA/2j mice produced 100% convulsions within one hour, but produced to convulsions in C57 Bl/6j mice for as long as 4 hours after administration. These data demonstrate that an insulin resistancy exists in C57 Bl/6j mice which is not dependent upon any prior alcohol experience. Evidence supporting a functional relationship between this diabetogenic disturbance and alcohol preference was obtained in C57 Bl/6j mice which were allowed to choose between water or a 10% alcohol solution (v/v). Insulin zinc protamine produced a selective dose-dependent reduction in alcohol intake. Additional support is received from the discovery that Chinese hamsters, a species genetically predisposed to diabetes, display an impressive preference for 10% alcohol.
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002755:Choice Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood; D006224:Cricetinae; D003412:Cricetulus; D004702:Endocrine Glands / Q000502:physiology*; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D003345:Corticosterone