Behavioral sensitivity to purinergic drugs parallels ethanol sensitivity in selectively bred mice.

Behavioral responses to an adenosine receptor agonist and antagonist were examined in mice genetically selected for differential sensitivity to the soporific effects of ethanol. Both ethanol and the adenosine receptor agonist L-phenylisopropyladenosine had greater sedative and hypothermic effects in ethanol-sensitive "long-sleep" mice than in ethanol-insensitive "short-sleep" mice. Long-sleep mice were also more sensitive to the excitatory behavioral effects of theophylline, an adenosine receptor antagonist. These data suggest that adenosine may be an endogenous mediator of responses to ethanol.