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Response to selection for sensitivity to ethanol hypothermia: genetic analyses
T J Phillips1, E S Terdal, J C Crabbe
1Research Service, VA Medical Center, Portland, Oregon 97201.
Behavior Genetics
|July 1, 1990
Summary
Selective breeding created mouse lines with differing ethanol sensitivity. These HOT and COLD lines show a 4°C difference in hypothermia, indicating genetic influence on alcohol
Area of Science:
- Animal Genetics
- Behavioral Neuroscience
- Pharmacogenetics
Background:
- Ethanol (EtOH) exposure induces hypothermia in mice.
- Individual differences in EtOH sensitivity exist.
- Selective breeding is a tool to study genetic contributions to EtOH effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and characterize mouse lines selectively bred for differential sensitivity to ethanol-induced hypothermia.
- To estimate the heritability of ethanol hypothermic response.
- To investigate potential correlated responses to selection.
Main Methods:
- Selective breeding of mice for high (HOT) and low (COLD) sensitivity to ethanol-induced hypothermia.
- Maintenance of two independent HOT lines, two COLD lines, and two control (CON) lines.
- Monitoring of inbreeding levels and fertility throughout the breeding program.
Main Results:
- Achieved a significant difference of approximately 4°C in hypothermic response between HOT and COLD lines by generation 14.
- Estimated heritability for EtOH-induced hypothermia to be around 20%, suggesting additive genetic variance.
- Observed an inbreeding increase of approximately 1.7% per generation without fertility issues.
Conclusions:
- Selective breeding is effective in creating mouse models with distinct ethanol hypothermic responses.
- Additive genetic factors play a notable role in modulating ethanol's hypothermic effects.
- These selectively bred lines provide valuable resources for studying the genetic architecture of alcohol sensitivity.