Ethanol and nitrous oxide produce withdrawal-induced convulsions by similar mechanisms in mice
Twenty generations of selective breeding were used to produce lines (strains) of mice which differ markedly from one another in ethanol physical dependence development as indexed by handling-induced convulsions (HIC) induced by withdrawal from ethanol. These withdrawal seizure prone (WSP) and withdrawal seizure resistant (WSR) selection lines now differ by over 10-fold in HIC scores after equivalent exposure to intoxicating levels of ethanol via inhalation. Since handling-induced convulsions can be readily elicited following withdrawal from nitrous oxide, the authors sought to determine if the very large differences in ethanol withdrawal-induced HIC bred into these selection lines would generalize to nitrous oxide. Following a 60 min exposure to 75% nitrous oxide (in O/sub 2/), a greater than 10-fold difference in HIC scores, and a 2-fold difference in tremor incidence was seen upon withdrawal in WSP vs. WSR mice. These finding closely parallel those seen with ethanol, and demonstrate that a large degree of commonality exists in the genes and the mechanisms determining these withdrawal signs. HIC elicited by nitrous oxide withdrawal were readily suppressed by ethanol, and HIC elicited by ethanol withdrawal were promptly suppressed by 75% nitrous oxide in WSP mice. Nitrous oxide also suppressed HIC and tremor associated with nitrous oxide withdrawal. 19 references, 1 figure, 4 tables.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of North Dakota, Grand Forks
- OSTI ID:
- 5898659
- Journal Information:
- Life Sci.; (United States), Vol. 41:17
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Effects of lorazepam tolerance and withdrawal on GABA[sub A] receptor operated chloride channels in mice selected for differences in ethanol withdrawal severity
Ethanol-related changes in benzodiazepine receptor ligand modulation of GABA[sub A] receptor-operated chloride channels: Relevance to ethanol tolerance and dependence
Related Subjects
ETHANOL
TOXICITY
NITROUS OXIDE
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
GENES
GENETIC VARIABILITY
MICE
SYMPTOMS
ALCOHOLS
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL VARIABILITY
CHALCOGENIDES
DATA
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
MAMMALS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN OXIDES
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RODENTS
VERTEBRATES
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology