Research report
Initial sensitivity and tolerance to ethanol in mice: correlations among open field activity, hypothermia, and loss of righting reflex1

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The sensitivity of male Swiss albino mice to the effects of ethanol was successively tested using measures of open field activity (OFA), hypothermia (HT), and duration of loss of righting reflex (LORR). Doses used were 1, 3, and 4.5 g/kg (ip) ethanol. Tests were conducted 1 week apart and were counterbalanced for order. HT was positively correlated with baseline temperature. This could represent a “normalizing” effect of ethanol, or an undetermined common mechanism. HT and degree of subsequent tolerance to HT were highly positively correlated. Baseline OFA was positively correlated with ethanol-induced LORR. LORR also correlated positively with HT, but neither baseline nor ethanol-stimulated OFA were significantly associated with HT.

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    1

    This research was supported by the Veterans Administration and by Grant DA 02799 from NIDA. Dr. Rigter's current address is: CNS Pharmacology Department, Organon International BV, Oss, The Netherlands. J. Janowsky's current address is: Department of Psychology, Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y. 14853. Address all communication to: John Crabbe, Research Service (151), Veterans Administration Medical Center, 3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Rd., Portland, Oreg. 97201. We thank Craig Strobel for technical assistance and An Irwin and Helen Bennett for preparing the manuscript.

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