Common quantitative trait loci for alcohol-related behaviors and central nervous system neurotensin measures: hypnotic and hypothermic effects.

Genetic correlations were found between high-affinity neurotensin receptor (NTR(H)) densities and NT-immunoreactivity (NT-ir) levels in specific brain regions and sensitivity to hypnotic and hypothermic effects of ethanol in LSXSS recombinant inbred strains of mice. Simple sequence length polymorphisms were used to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) influencing hypnotic and hypothermic sensitivity to ethanol, NTR(H) and low-affinity neurotensin receptor densities and NT-ir levels in LSXSS recombinant inbred strains. Common QTL for NTR(H) receptor densities, NT-ir levels and these ethanol actions were identified. One of the QTL (chromosome 2, 80 cM) for NTR(H) density and hypnotic sensitivity is linked to the NTR(H) gene, Ntsr. Also, QTL for NTR(H) density were found in common with confirmed QTL for hypnotic sensitivity on chromosomes 1 (43 cM), 11 (57 cM) and 15 (56 cM) and with an unconfirmed QTL on chromosome 3 (19 cM). Two common QTL for NT-ir levels, but not NTR(H) or low-affinity neurotensin receptor receptors, and ethanol-induced hypothermia were observed on chromosomes 4 (43 cM) and 6 (41 cM). Two common QTL for NT-ir levels and sleep time were identified on chromosomes 3 (19 cM) and 9 (55 cM). Common QTL indicate that genes regulating NT receptor and/or NT-ir expression may be the same as those regulating sensitivity to ethanol.