GLYCINE RECEPTORS FROM LONG-SLEEP AND SHORT-SLEEP MICE - GENETIC-DIFFERENCES IN DRUG-SENSITIVITY

The long-sleep (LS) and short-sleep (SS) mice were selected for differ ences in sensitivity to ethanol but also differ in response to propofo l and some neurosteroids. To determine the role of strychnine-sensitiv e glycine receptors in genetic differences between these mice, effects of propofol, ethanol and pregnenolone sulfate on glycine responses we re compared in Xenopus oocytes expressing mRNA extracted from spinal c ord of LS and SS mice. The two lines of mice did not differ in sensiti vity to glycine, ethanol or pregnenolone sulfate. However, receptors e xpressed from LS mRNA were more sensitive to the potentiation induced by propofol than those from SS. Binding of [H-3]strychnine to spinal c ord membranes demonstrated a similar affinity and density of receptors in LS and SS. These results suggest that glycine receptor function co uld account for differences in propofol sensitivity between LS and SS mice, but may not be responsible for the differences in behavioral sen sitivity to ethanol or steroids previously reported. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.