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Hybrid C57BL/6J × FVB/NJ Mice Drink More Alcohol than Do C57BL/6J Mice
Author(s) -
Blednov Yuri A.,
Metten Pamela,
Finn Deborah A.,
Rhodes Justin S.,
Bergeson Susan E.,
Harris R Adron,
Crabbe John C.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
alcoholism: clinical and experimental research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.267
H-Index - 153
eISSN - 1530-0277
pISSN - 0145-6008
DOI - 10.1097/01.alc.0000187605.91468.17
Subject(s) - ethanol , c57bl/6 , inbred strain , alcohol , zoology , strain (injury) , mouse strain , alcohol consumption , alcohol intake , medicine , biology , biochemistry , gene
A bstract : Background: From several recent strain surveys (28 strains: Bachmanov et al., personal communication; 22 strains: Finn et al., unpublished), and from data in >100 other published studies of 24‐hr two‐bottle ethanol preference, it is known that male C57BL/6 (B6) mice self‐administer about 10–14 g/kg/day and that female B6 mice self‐administer about 12‐18 g/kg/day. No strain has been found to consume more ethanol than B6. In one of our laboratories (Texas), we noted a markedly greater intake of ethanol in an F 1 hybrid of B6 and FVB/NJ (FVB) mice. Methods: To confirm and extend this finding, we repeated the study at another site (Portland) using concentrations up to 30% ethanol and also tested B6×FVB F 1 mice in restricted access drinking procedures that produce high levels of alcohol intake. Results: At both sites, we found that B6×FVB F 1 mice self‐administered high levels of ethanol during two‐bottle preference tests (females averaging from 20 to 35 g/kg/day, males 7–25 g/kg/day, depending on concentration). F 1 hybrids of both sexes drank significantly more 20% ethanol than both the B6 and FVB strains. Female F 1 hybrids also drank more 30% ethanol. In the restricted access tests, ethanol consumption in the F 1 hybrids was equivalent to that in B6 mice. Conclusions: These data show that this new genetic model has some significant advantages when compared to existing inbred strains, and could be used to explore the genetic basis of high ethanol drinking in mice.