Biological similarities and differences between rats genetically different in alcohol preference.

This paper is an inventory of some behavioural, biochemical and pharmacological similarities and differences between two inbred strains of Wistar rats differing in voluntary consumption of ethanol, namely: UChA and UChB with low and high preferences respectively for ethanol under conditions involving free choice between a 10% (v/v) ethanol solution and distilled water. The following strain differences were observed: ethanol consumption (UChA less than UChB); total water consumption (UChA less than UChB); solid food consumption (UChA greater than UChB); rate of recovery of ethanol label in expired CO2 (UChA less than UChB); oxidation of ethanol to acetaldehyde by brain homogenates (UChA greater than UChB); acetaldehyde disposal by brain homogenates (UChA less than UChB); ethanol (90 mmol/kg, i.p.) sleeping-time (UChA less than UChB); chronic and acute tolerance to ethanol (UChA developed it, whereas UChB did not); lethal doses of ethanol (UChA greater than UChB); recovery rate of the label of gluconate in expired CO2 (UChA less than UChB); recovery rate of the label of fructose in expired CO2 (UChA less than UChB); blood-glucose level after glucose (1 g/kg, i.p.) load (UChA less than UChB). No strain differences were observed in the rate of recovery in expired CO2 of the label of the following substrates: acetate, pyruvate, butyrate, citrate, ribose, glycerol, sorbitol, glucose and galactose.