INBRED MOUSE STRAINS DIFFER IN SENSITIVITY TO POPPING BEHAVIOR ELICITED BY MK-801

We examined possible genetic contributions to MK-801-elicited ''poppin g'' behavior in mice. MK-801-elicited ''popping'' behavior may represe nt a preclinical screening paradigm for identifying novel antipsychoti c medications. Specifically, we studied the sensitivity of four inbred strains of mice (BALB/c, C57BL/6, AKR, and DBA/2) to MK-801-elicited ''popping'' behavior and compared their response to the outbred NIH Sw iss strain in which the behavior was first characterized. The BALB/c s train was most sensitive to the elicitation of MK-801 induced popping behavior, whereas the other inbred strains were less sensitive than th e outbred strain. The identification of strain differences in MK-801-e licited ''popping'' behavior suggests an important role for genetic fa ctors in the elicitation of MK-801 ''popping'' behavior in mice. (C) 1 997 Elsevier Science Inc.