Neurochemical correlates of alcohol preference in inbred strains of mice

• Published in: Pharmacology, biochemistry and behavior Vol. 3; no. 6; pp. 1073 - 1076
• Main Authors: Ho, A.K.S., Tsai, C.S., Kissin, B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.11.1975
• Subjects: 4-(1-napthylvinyl) pyridium salt (NVP); Acetylcholine - metabolism; Animals; Brain Chemistry - drug effects; Brain monoamines; Central cholinergic mechanism; Choice Behavior - drug effects; Choline - metabolism; Decision Making - drug effects; Dopamine - metabolism; Ethanol - pharmacology; Ethanol preference; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Inbred DBA; Norepinephrine - metabolism; Parasympathetic Nervous System - physiology; Species Specificity; Strain differences; 4-(1-napthylvinyl) pyridium salt (NVP); Ethanol preference; Strain differences; Brain monoamines; Central cholinergic mechanism
• ISSN: 0091-3057; 1873-5177
• DOI: 10.1016/0091-3057(75)90019-2

C 5 7 B1 6 J , a specific inbred strain of mice with high alcohol preference and DBA/2J, a specific inbred strain with poor preference for alcohol were studied. Brain content of acetylcholine, uptake of 14C-Choline by whole brain homogenate were significantly higher in the C 5 7 B1 6 J mice whereas brain acetylcholinesterase was higher in the DBA/2J mice. No significant difference was found for the level of brain serotonin, uptake of 3H-norepinephrine or 3H-dopamine. Treatment with a specific inhibitor of choline transferase, 4-(1-napthylvinyl) pyridine salt (10 mg/kg, twice daily) shifted the selection of alcohol to water in the C 5 7 B1 6 J mice. These findings suggest a direct involvement of central cholinergic mechanism in alcohol preference.