Hybrid Mice as Genetic Models of High Alcohol Cons

Authors: Y A Blednov A R Ozburn D Walker S Ahmed J K Belknap R A Harris

Publish Date: 2009/10/02

Volume: 40, Issue: 1, Pages: 93-

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Abstract

We showed that F1 hybrid genotypes may provide a broader variety of ethanol drinking phenotypes than the inbred progenitor strains used to create the hybrids Blednov et al in Alcohol Clin Exp Res 291949–1958 2005 To extend this work we characterized alcohol consumption as well as intake of other tastants saccharin quinine and sodium chloride in five inbred strains of mice FVB SJL B6 BUB NZB and in their reciprocal F1 hybrids with B6 FVBxB6 B6xFVB NZBxB6 B6xNZB BUBxB6 B6xBUB SJLxB6 B6xSJL We also compared ethanol intake in these mice for several concentrations before and after two periods of abstinence F1 hybrid mice derived from the crosses of B6 and FVB and also B6 and SJL drank higher levels of ethanol than their progenitor strains demonstrating overdominance for twobottle choice drinking test The B6 and NZB hybrid showed additivity in twobottle choice drinking whereas the hybrid of B6 and BUB demonstrated full or complete dominance Genealogical origin as well as nonalcohol taste preferences sodium chloride predicted ethanol consumption Mice derived from the crosses of B6 and FVB showed high sustained alcohol preference and the B6 and NZB hybrids showed reduced alcohol preference after periods of abstinence These new genetic models offer some advantages over inbred strains because they provide high sustained alcohol intake and should allow mapping of loci important for the genetic architecture of these traitsThis study or research was supported by grants from the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism AA U01 13520 and AA U01 AA016655—INIA West Projects NIH A06399 and AA01760 and SRCS Award from the Department of Veterans Affairs The authors would like to thank Virginia Bleck for excellent technical assistance

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