Gustavo D Barrenha1, Julia A Chester. 1. Department of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-2081, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Selectively bred rodent lines are valuable tools for investigating gene × environment interactions related to risk for alcoholism in humans. Early maternal environment is one particular factor known for critically influencing neural, hormonal, and behavioral outcomes in adulthood. Cross-fostering is a procedure that may be used to explore the role of genotype-dependent maternal influences on phenotypic variability in adulthood. The purpose of these experiments was to examine the effects of cross-fostering on free-choice alcohol drinking and correlated responses to selection for alcohol preference in mice selectively bred for high (HAP2) and low (LAP2) alcohol preference. METHODS: Mice were assigned to one of the following treatments: SHAM (pups that were fostered to their original biological mother), IN (pups that were fostered to a different mother of the same line), and CROSS (pups that were fostered to a mother of a different line). Mice were tested in adulthood for (i) free 24-hour access to alcohol for a period of 28 days; (ii) the expression of the acoustic startle response and fear-potentiated startle (FPS); and (iii) handling-induced convulsions (HICs) during acute alcohol withdrawal. RESULTS: Overall, the expression of the alcohol preference selection phenotype was robust in all groups (HAP2 > LAP2). Cross-fostering produced a moderate but significant reduction in g/kg alcohol drinking and preference scores in HAP2 mice (CROSS < SHAM) but had no effect in LAP2 mice. Cross-fostering did not affect the expression of correlated responses to selection: acoustic startle response (HAP2 > LAP2), FPS (HAP2 > LAP2), HICs (LAP2 > HAP2). CONCLUSIONS: It appears that maternal environment can modify the expression of the high-alcohol-preference phenotype in HAP2 selectively bred mice. These results suggest a gene × environment interaction with respect to the expression of the high-alcohol-preference selection phenotype but not correlated responses to selection.
BACKGROUND: Selectively bred rodent lines are valuable tools for investigating gene × environment interactions related to risk for alcoholism in humans. Early maternal environment is one particular factor known for critically influencing neural, hormonal, and behavioral outcomes in adulthood. Cross-fostering is a procedure that may be used to explore the role of genotype-dependent maternal influences on phenotypic variability in adulthood. The purpose of these experiments was to examine the effects of cross-fostering on free-choice alcohol drinking and correlated responses to selection for alcohol preference in mice selectively bred for high (HAP2) and low (LAP2) alcohol preference. METHODS:Mice were assigned to one of the following treatments: SHAM (pups that were fostered to their original biological mother), IN (pups that were fostered to a different mother of the same line), and CROSS (pups that were fostered to a mother of a different line). Mice were tested in adulthood for (i) free 24-hour access to alcohol for a period of 28 days; (ii) the expression of the acoustic startle response and fear-potentiated startle (FPS); and (iii) handling-induced convulsions (HICs) during acute alcohol withdrawal. RESULTS: Overall, the expression of the alcohol preference selection phenotype was robust in all groups (HAP2 > LAP2). Cross-fostering produced a moderate but significant reduction in g/kg alcohol drinking and preference scores in HAP2 mice (CROSS < SHAM) but had no effect in LAP2mice. Cross-fostering did not affect the expression of correlated responses to selection: acoustic startle response (HAP2 > LAP2), FPS (HAP2 > LAP2), HICs (LAP2 > HAP2). CONCLUSIONS: It appears that maternal environment can modify the expression of the high-alcohol-preference phenotype in HAP2 selectively bred mice. These results suggest a gene × environment interaction with respect to the expression of the high-alcohol-preference selection phenotype but not correlated responses to selection.
Authors: Solal Bloch; Katherine M Holleran; Thomas L Kash; Elena M Vazey; Jennifer A Rinker; Christina L Lebonville; Krysten O'Hara; Marcelo F Lopez; Sara R Jones; Kathleen A Grant; Howard C Becker; Patrick J Mulholland Journal: Alcohol Date: 2022-02-15 Impact factor: 2.405
Authors: Can Peng; Staci E Engle; Yijin Yan; Marcus M Weera; Jennifer N Berry; Matthew C Arvin; Guiqing Zhao; J Michael McIntosh; Julia A Chester; Ryan M Drenan Journal: PLoS One Date: 2017-07-31 Impact factor: 3.240