ALCOHOL INTAKE IN SELECTED LINES OF MICE - IMPORTANCE OF SEX AND GENOTYPE

Studied the relationship between CNS sensitivity to ethanol (E) and voluntary consumption of an E solution in mice selected by G. E. McClearn and R. Kakihana (1973) for differences in E-induced sleep time. In Exp I, 32 mice from the long-sleep (LS) and short-sleep (SS) lines were offered a choice of water or solution GS consisting of 3% glucose and .16% sodium saccharin (w/v); or a choice of water or solution GS + E that contained GS solution plus 4% E (w/v). In Exp II, Ss from the 1st experiment were provided with a 3-way choice among water, solution GS, and solution GS + E. In both experiments, SS (alcohol-insensitive) Ss consumed more GS + E than LS (alcohol-sensitive). In addition, females drank considerably more GS + E solution than males. Thus consumption of sweetened E in both a 2-way choice (water and GS + E) and a 3-way choice (water, GS, and GS + E) was dependent on both genotype and sex. High genetic sensitivity to E was associated with low consumption, and vice versa. Although females consumed more alcohol than males, females of these lines have not been previously found to show lower sensitivity to acute alcohol administration. (19 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1979 American Psychological Association.