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An Animal Model for Low Dose Ethanol‐Induced Locomotor Stimulation: Behavioral Characteristics
Author(s) -
Erickson C. K.,
Kochhar A.
Publication year - 1985
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 - 10.1111/j.1530-0277.1985.tb05550.x
Subject(s) - neurochemical , stimulation , ethanol , mouse strain , locomotor activity , strain (injury) , animal model , inbred strain , medicine , rodent model , endocrinology , neuroscience , psychology , pharmacology , chemistry , biochemistry , gene
The present paper describes a rat strain, Maudsley reactive (MR/N), which dramatically and reliably shows enhanced locomotor stimulation in an openfield apparatus after low doses of ethanol. Other strains, Sprague‐Dawley and Wistar inbred, do not show stimulation, whereas Maudsley nonreactive rats show a less dramatic and variable response to ethanol, compared to the MR/N strain. Female MR/ N rats show greater stimulation than male MR/N rats, and the response it dose‐, age‐, and apparatus‐related. We conclude that low dose ethanol‐induced locomotor stimulation in the MR/N rat strain could be a valuable rodent model for studying central neurochemical correlates of alcohol intoxication.