COMMON QUANTITATIVE TRAIT LOCI FOR ALCOHOL-RELATED BEHAVIORS AND CENTRAL-NERVOUS-SYSTEM NEUROTENSIN MEASURES - HYPNOTIC AND HYPOTHERMIC EFFECTS

Genetic correlations were found between high-affinity neurotensin rece ptor (NTR(H)) densities and NT-immunoreactivity (NT-ir) levels in spec ific brain regions and sensitivity to hypnotic and hypothermic effects of ethanol in LSXSS recombinant inbred strains of mice. Simple sequen ce length polymorphisms were used to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) influencing hypnotic and hypothermic sensitivity to ethanol, NTR (H) and low-affinity neurotensin receptor densities and NT-ir levels i n LSXSS recombinant inbred strains. Common QTL for NTRH receptor densi ties, NT-ir levels and these ethanol actions were identified. One of t he QTL (chromosome 2, 80 cM) for NTR(H) density and hypnotic sensitivi ty is linked to the NTR(H) gene, Ntsr. Also, QTL for NTR(H) density we re found in common with confirmed QTL for hypnotic sensitivity on chro mosomes 1 (43 cM), 11 (57 cM) and 15 (56 cM) and with an unconfirmed Q TL on chromosome 3 (19 cM). Two common QTL for NT-ir levels, but not N TR, or low-affinity neurotensin receptor receptors, and ethanol-induce d hypothermia were observed on chromosomes 4 (43 cM) and 6 (41 cM). Tw o common QTL for NT-ir levels and sleep time were identified on chromo somes 3 (19 cM) and 9 (55 cM). Common QTL indicate that genes regulati ng NT receptor and/or NT-ir expression may be the same as those regula ting sensitivity to ethanol.