INBRED MOUSE STRAINS DIFFER IN THE REGULATION OF STARTLE AND PREPULSEINHIBITION OF THE STARTLE RESPONSE

The startle response and adaptability of the startle response (prepuls e inhibition and habituation) have been observed in animals. The studi es reported here screened 8 inbred mouse strains to determine whether genetic factors influence these behaviors. Strain differences were fou nd in both the sensitivity to acoustic startle and the magnitude of bo th the auditory and tactile startle as well as the magnitude of prepul se inhibition (PPI) of both tactile and acoustic startle. Neither the 2 startle responses nor the 2 forms of PPI were significantly correlat ed with one another, suggesting that different genes regulate these 2 forms of startle and PPI. Acoustic-acoustic PPI was significantly corr elated, however, with hippocampal auditory gating (TC ratio) suggestin g an overlap in the genes that regulate these 2 forms of sensory gatin g.