Stimulatory effects of ethanol in C57BL/6 mice

Although ethanol stimulation is well documented in several species including humans, there is some controversy about whether the stimulation occurs in the highly inbred mouse strain, C57BL/6. Since inbred mouse strains are frequently used to elucidate mechanisms for individual differences in reaction to alcohol, the present study was undertaken to more completely characterize the behavioral effects of ethanol and to help resolve some of the controversy regarding the drug's stimulatory effect on C57 mice. Activity of female C57BL/6cr mice was assessed in either a lighted or dark environment for 20 min after injections of water or ethanol at doses of 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0 g/kg. Elevated activity (stimulation) was observed in mice injected with relatively low ethanol doses and tested in the light. The 2.0 g/kg dose produced a transient elevation in activity which declined rapidly across time. Animals tested under the dark condition were not stimulated by the drug but had activity reductions to high doses of ethanol. The detection of ethanol-induced stimulation appears to be related to the performance of control mice rather than a light-related difference in ethanol sensitivity.