title: Biological similarities and differences between rats genetically different in alcohol preference.
abstract: This paper is an inventory of some behavioural, biochemical and pharmacological similarities and differences between two inbred strains of Wistar rats differing in voluntary consumption of ethanol, namely: UChA and UChB with low and high preferences respectively for ethanol under conditions involving free choice between a 10% (v/v) ethanol solution and distilled water. The following strain differences were observed: ethanol consumption (UChA less than UChB); total water consumption (UChA less than UChB); solid food consumption (UChA greater than UChB); rate of recovery of ethanol label in expired CO2 (UChA less than UChB); oxidation of ethanol to acetaldehyde by brain homogenates (UChA greater than UChB); acetaldehyde disposal by brain homogenates (UChA less than UChB); ethanol (90 mmol/kg, i.p.) sleeping-time (UChA less than UChB); chronic and acute tolerance to ethanol (UChA developed it, whereas UChB did not); lethal doses of ethanol (UChA greater than UChB); recovery rate of the label of gluconate in expired CO2 (UChA less than UChB); recovery rate of the label of fructose in expired CO2 (UChA less than UChB); blood-glucose level after glucose (1 g/kg, i.p.) load (UChA less than UChB). No strain differences were observed in the rate of recovery in expired CO2 of the label of the following substrates: acetate, pyruvate, butyrate, citrate, ribose, glycerol, sorbitol, glucose and galactose.
mesh_terms: D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000401:mortality; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D000431:Ethanol / Q000378:metabolism; D005632:Fructose / Q000378:metabolism; D005942:Gluconates / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D051381:Rats; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D005942:Gluconates; D005632:Fructose; D000431:Ethanol