Genetic-environment analysis of sensitivity and acute tolerance to ethanolin mice

The purpose of this study was to characterize initial sensitivity (IS), acu te functional tolerance (AFT), and rate of tolerance development to ethanol in lines of mice selected for aggression mice as well as to investigate th e impact of isolate housing on these phenotypes. The results showed that fo r IS, there were no differences among treatment groups. For acute tolerance and rate of tolerance development, a Line x Sex x Housing interaction was present, with the response to housing being more pronounced in the low aggr essive line than the high aggressive line, and the females being more affec ted than the males. Correlational analysis showed low to moderate associati ons between rate of tolerance development and IS, as well as between rate o f tolerance and AFT. Housing condition significantly influenced female expr ession of ethanol phenotypes as compared to males. The line of the subject also influenced the magnitude of expression of these phenotypes. These find ings suggest that environmental and genetic influences interact to influenc e acute tolerance and rate of tolerance development. (C) 2001 Elsevier Scie nce Inc. All rights reserved.