Neurochemical correlates of alcohol preference in inbred strains of mice.
C57B1/6J, a specific inbred strain of mice with high alcohol preference and DBA/2J, a specific inbred strain with poor preference for alcohol were studied. Brain content of acetylcholine, uptake of 14C-Choline by whole brain homogenate were significantly higher in the C57B1/6J mice whereas brain acetylcholinesterase was higher in the DBA/2J mice. No significant difference was found for the level of brain serotonin, uptake of 3H-norepinephrine or 3H-dopamine. Treatment with a specific inhibitor of choline transferase, 4-(1-napthylvinyl) pyridine salt (10 mg/kg, twice daily) shifted the selection of alcohol to water in the C57B1/6J mice. These findings suggest a direct involvement of central cholinergic mechanism in alcohol preference.
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D002755:Choice Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D002794:Choline / Q000378:metabolism; D003657:Decision Making / Q000187:drug effects*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism; D010275:Parasympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology; D013045:Species Specificity
D000431:Ethanol; D002794:Choline; D000109:Acetylcholine; D004298:Dopamine; D009638:Norepinephrine