Genetic differences in the operant rate-depressant effects of ethanol between four inbred mouse strains.
The use of genetically defined populations in studies of ethanol on schedule-controlled behavior can help determine genetically underlying responses to ethanol as well as the role of environmental constraints in the expression of gene effects. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the rate-depressant effects of ethanol in four inbred mouse strains, A/J, CBA/J, C3H/HeJ and DBA/2J. Ethanol dose-dependently decreased high rates of behavior maintained by fixed-ratio responding for study in all four strains. In general, DBA/2J mice were the least sensitive to the rate-depressant effects of ethanol, with an A/J averaging 19.29% greater than the other three inbred strains. The results of this experiment demonstrate that genetic factors play a role in determining responsitivity to even a complex learned behavioral sequence such as lever press responding with a fixed ratio schedule, and that sensitivity to the effects of ethanol on fixed-ratio responding for water is not genetically related to acute narcotic effects or reinforcing effects of ethanol.
Behavioural Pharmacology and Genetics Section, Preclinical Pharmacology Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Box 5180, Baltimore, Maryland 21224, USA.
G.I.
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Elmor
F.R.
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George