Brain temperature and ethanol sensitivity in C57 mice: a radiotelemetric study

This study investigated the relationship between ethanol sensitivity and brain temperature using radiotelemetric techniques. Radiotelemetric brain probes were implanted in the lateral cerebral ventricle of C57BL/6 mice. Rectal and brain temperatures, duration of loss of righting reflex (LORR), and blood and brain ethanol concentrations at the return of righting reflex (RORR) were measured following intraperitoneal (IP) injection with 3.6 g/kg ethanol and exposure to 12, 15, 22 or 34 degrees C. Rectal and brain temperatures were significantly correlated in untreated and intoxicated mice. Brain temperatures were lower than rectal temperatures in untreated mice, but were not different than rectal temperatures in intoxicated mice. Ethanol sensitivity, measured by the duration of LORR and ethanol concentrations at RORR, was significantly correlated with brain as well as rectal temperatures at RORR. Brain probe implantations did not significantly affect ethanol sensitivity. The direct positive relationship between brain temperature and ethanol sensitivity in C57 mice fits predictions based on membrane actions of ethanol and supports the hypothesis that temperature-induced changes in behavioral sensitivity to ethanol are mediated through changes in brain membrane temperature.