title: Saccharin intake predicts ethanol intake in genetically heterogeneous rats as well as different rat strains.
abstract: Saccharin and ethanol intakes were measured in seven strains of rats known to differ in their preferences for ethanol: The Fawn-Hooded (FH), alcohol-preferring (P) and Maudsley Reactive rats have been reported to drink ethanol voluntarily, whereas the alcohol-nonpreferring, Maudsley Nonreactive and Flinders Line (FSL and FRL) rats do not. Saccharin and ethanol intakes were highly correlated (r = +0.61) over all strains, with the FH rats drinking the most of both solutions. Correlation coefficients between pairs of drinking versus nondrinking rat strains were even higher. In a second experiment, genetically heterogeneous F2 progeny from cross-breeding the ethanol-preferring FH rats with the ethanol-nonpreferring Flinders Resistant Line (FRL) rats were studied. The results indicated a high positive correlation between saccharin and ethanol intakes (+0.65). These findings suggest that the association between saccharin and ethanol intakes previously reported in rat strains with different preferences for ethanol may have a similar genetic basis.
authors: Skipper Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill 27599-7175.
authors: D H
authors: DH
authors: Overstreet
authors: A B
authors: AB
authors: Kampov-Polevoy
authors: A H
authors: AH
authors: Rezvani
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Murrelle
authors: J A
authors: JA
authors: Halikas
authors: D S
authors: DS
authors: Janowsky
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D001143:Arousal / Q000235:genetics*; D004326:Drinking / Q000235:genetics*; D005838:Genotype; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012439:Saccharin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013045:Species Specificity; D013649:Taste / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D012439:Saccharin