Skip to main content
Log in

Strain differences in amphetamine sensitivity in mice

I. A diallel analysis of open field activity

  • Original Investigations
  • Published:
Psychopharmacology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Experiments are reported which show that 1 mg/kg of d-methylamphetamine HCl induced hyperactivity in pigmented strains (C57BR, C57BL/6, and SEC) and hypoactivity or no change in albino strains (BALB/c, A, and AKR) of mice. In F1 hybrids, the B6 genotype was partially dominant over BR and C, and BR over C. In animals back-crossed to C parents widespread distributions with two peaks were obtained in control experiments, and amphetamine induced hyperactivity in 38% of the albino population, and hypoactivity or no significant change in 45% of the pigmented one. This genetic study indicates that genes influencing locomotor activity are independent from those influencing amphetamine sensitivity. From results obtained in back-crosses and C57BL/6-c2J mice, the albino gene does not seem to be involved in the hypoactive effect of amphetamine.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abeelen, J. H. F. V.: Effects of genotype on mouse behavior. Anim. Behav. 14, 218–225 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Abeelen, J. H. F. V., Smits, A. J. M., Raaijijamakers, W. G. M.: Central location of a genotype-dependent cholinergic mechanism controlling exploratory behavior in mice. Psychopharmacologia 19, 324–328 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Anisman, H., Wahlsten, D., Kokkindis, L.: Effects of d-amphetamine and scopolamine on activity before and after shock in three mouse strains. Pharmacol. Biochem. Behav. 3, 819–824 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Anisman, H.: Effects of scopolamine and d-amphetamine on locomotor activity before and after shock: A diallellic analysis in mice. Psychopharmacology 48, 165–173 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bovet, D., Bovet-Nitti, E., Oliverio, A.: Genetic aspects of learning and memory in mice. Science 163, 139–149 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Carlsson, A.: Amphetamine and brain catecholamines. In: Amphetamine and related compounds, Proceedings of the Mario Negri institute for pharmacological research, E. Costa, S. Garattini, eds., pp. 289–300. New York: 1970

  • DeFries, J. C., Hegman, J. P., Weir, M. W.: Open field behavior in mice: Evidence for a major gene effect mediated by the visual system. Science 154, 1577–1579 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • DeFries, J. D., Hegman, J. P.: Genetic analysis of the open field behavior. In: Contributions to behavior-genetic analysis: The mouse as a prototype, G. Lindzey, D. D. Thiessen, eds., pp. 23–56. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts 1970

    Google Scholar 

  • Dixon, L. K., DeFries, J. C.: Effects of illumination on open field behavior in mice. J. Comp. Physiol. Psychol. 66, 803–805 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Eleftheriou, B. E.: Regional brain norepinephrine turnover rates in four inbred strains of mice. Neuroendocrinology 7, 329–336 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Javoy, F., Thierry, A. M., Kety, S. S., Glowinski, J.: The effects of amphetamine on the turnover of brain norepinephrine in normal and stressed rats. Commun. Behav. Biol. 1A, 43–48 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jori, A., Rutczynski, M.: A genetic analysis of the hyperthermic response to d-amphetamine in two inbred strains of mice. Psychopharmacology 59, 199–203 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kempf, E., Graeilshmer, J., Mack, G., Mandel, P.: Correlation of behavioral differences in three strains of mice with differences in brain amines. Nature 247, 483–485 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kety, S. S.: Norepinephrine in the central nervous system and its correlations with behavior. In: Brain and human behavior, A. G. Karczmar, J. C. Eccles, eds., pp. 115–129. Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: Springer 1972

    Google Scholar 

  • Kitahama, K., Valatx, J. L.: Modalité d'apprentissage d'un labyrinthe chez les souches C57BR, C57BL/6 et BALB/c. Physiol. Behav. 16, 9–14 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kitahama, K.: Etude neuro-psycho-pharmacogénétique de relation sommeil-apprentissage. Thèse d'état ès-Sciences, Lyon 1979

  • Kitahama, K., Valatx, J. L.: Strain differences in amphetamine sensitivity. Overcompensation of paradoxical sleep after deprivation. Psychopharmacology (1979, in press)

  • Korf, J., Aghajanian, G. K., Roth, R. H.: Increased turnover of norepinephrine in the rat cerebral cortex during stress: Role of the locus coeruleus. Neuropharmacology 12, 933–938 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • McLearn, G.: Strain differences in activity of mice: Influence of illumination, J. Comp. Physiol. Psychol. 53, 142–143 (1960)

    Google Scholar 

  • Moisset, B., Welch, B. L.: Effects of d-amphetamine upon open field behavior in two inbred strains of mice. Experientia 29, 625–626 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Moisset, B.: Genetic analysis of the behavioral response to d-amphetamine in mice. Psychopharmacology 53, 263–267 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Natali, J. P., McRae-Degueurce, A., Keane, P., Debilly, G., Pujol, J. F.: Genetic study of daily variations of first step enzymes of monoamines metabolism in the brain of inbred strains of mice and hybrids. II. Daily variations of tyrosine hydroxylase activity in the Locus coeruleus. Brain Res. (in press)

  • Oliverio, A., Eleftheriou, B. E., Bailey, D. W.: Exploratory activity: Genetic analysis of its modification by scopolamine and amphetamine. Physiol. Behav. 10, 893–899 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Segal, D. S., Geyer, M. A., Weiner, B. E.: Strain differences during intraventricular infusion of norepinephrine. Possible role of receptor sensitivity. Science 189, 301–303 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Thiessen, D., Owen, K., Whitsett, M.: Chromosome mapping of behavioral activities. In: Contributions to behavior-genetic analysis, G. Lindzey, D. D. Thiessen, eds., pp. 161–204. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts 1970

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, W. R.: The inheritance of behavior, activity difference in five inbred mouse strains. J. Hered. 47, 147–148 (1956)

    Google Scholar 

  • Winer, B. J.: Statistical principles in experimental design, pp. 672. McGraw-Hill 1962

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kitahama, K., Valatx, JL. Strain differences in amphetamine sensitivity in mice. Psychopharmacology 66, 189–194 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00427629

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00427629

Key words

Navigation