Selective breeding for high and low alcohol preference in mice

Area of Science:

• Genetics and Behavioral Neuroscience
• Animal Models of Addiction

Background:

• Alcohol preference varies significantly within populations.
• Understanding the genetic basis of alcohol consumption is crucial for developing effective interventions.
• Previous research indicates a potential genetic correlation between sweet preference and alcohol drinking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create distinct mouse lines with high and low alcohol preference through bidirectional selection.
• To characterize the genetic basis and correlated phenotypes associated with alcohol drinking behavior.
• To establish a valuable genetic tool for future alcohol research.

Main Methods:

• Bidirectional selection over 10 generations of HS/lbg mice for high and low alcohol consumption.
• Two-bottle choice paradigm with 10% alcohol and water access.
• Selection based on daily alcohol intake (g/kg) over a 30-day period.
• Assessment of alcohol elimination rate, salt, quinine, and saccharin solution intake.

Main Results:

• Established distinct High Alcohol Preference (HAP) and Low Alcohol Preference (LAP) mouse lines.
• HAP mice consumed over 12 g/kg/day, while LAP mice consumed less than 2 g/kg/day at generation S10.
• Realized heritability for selection was approximately 0.2.
• Female mice exhibited higher alcohol consumption than males.
• No line differences in alcohol elimination rate or intake of salt/quinine solutions.
• HAP mice showed greater saccharin solution consumption, supporting a genetic correlation with sweet preference.

Conclusions:

• Successful creation of HAP and LAP mouse lines through selective breeding.
• These lines provide a robust genetic model for investigating the determinants of alcohol preference.
• The established lines are instrumental for future studies on the genetic architecture and neurobiological correlates of alcohol consumption.