The rapid onset of tolerance to ataxic effects of ethanol in mice

✍ Scribed by Edward J. Gallaher; Linda M. Parsons; Dora B. Goldstein

• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 1982
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 476 KB
• Volume: 78
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0033-3158
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00470591

✦ Synopsis

We have developed a precise quantal method for assessing the sensitivity to ethanol in the mouse. Mice placed on a clamped stationary horizontal dowel are scored ataxic or not ataxic depending on whether they are able to remain on the dowel during a 30-s observation period. A threshold blood ethanol concentration is determined by assaying tail blood drawn immediately upon recovery from ethanolinduced ataxia. This threshold is quite reproducible within a population of Swiss-Webster mice (coefficient of variation 9 %). The precision of this method allowed us to follow the onset of rapid tolerance during a series of sequential IP ethanol doses. Tolerance persisted overnight in the absence of ethanol, and was found not to increase fiarther with additional ethanol exposure on 2 subsequent days. The observed tolerance was shown not to be due to circadian changes in ethanol sensitivity or repeated practice on the task, indicating a true tissue tolerance.