Genetic influences on electrical seizure threshold

C57BL/6J (B6) and DBA/2J (D2) mice have been characterized previously as se izure-resistant and seizure-sensitive, respectively, a distinction based pr imarily upon a differential response to the convulsant effects of various d rugs. Tn the present study, electroconvulsive shock (ECS) was used to asses s maximal electroshock threshold (MET) in B6, D2 and hybrid mice. Results r evealed that D2 mice have a significantly lower MET compared to B6 mice. Th ere was also a significant gender effect for B6 and F2 mice with females ex hibiting a lower MET compared to males. METs for F1 and F2 intercross mice were intermediate between the two parental strains. The difference in varia nce between F2 and F1 generation mice indicated that about three-quarters o f the total variance is due to genetic influence. Taken together, results o f this study suggest that the large difference in MET between B6 and D2 mic e is a highly heritable trait which may yield to genetic dissection through use of quantitative trait locus mapping. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. Al l rights reserved.