Initial sensitivity, tolerance and cross-tolerance to allopregnanolone- and ethanol-induced hypothermia in selected mouse lines

Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2002 Jul;162(3):313-22. doi: 10.1007/s00213-002-1106-2. Epub 2002 May 14.

Abstract

Rationale: Acute ethanol administration induces hypothermia in genetically susceptible animals. Tolerance to this effect may develop with repeated administration. Allopregnanolone is an endogenously produced neuroactive steroid that acts at the GABA-A receptor. We postulated that allopregnanolone would induce hypothermia, and that lines of mice selectively bred for high (COLD-1 and COLD-2) or low (HOT-1 and HOT-2) sensitivity to ethanol's hypothermic effects would also be differentially sensitive to allopregnanolone-induced hypothermia. We also postulated that tolerance would develop to these two drugs by similar mechanisms, such that tolerance to one would impart cross-tolerance to the other.

Objectives: To assess sensitivity, tolerance and cross-tolerance to allopregnanolone's and ethanol's hypothermic effects in HOT-1 and 2, and COLD-1 and 2 mice.

Methods: Mice were administered one of several doses of allopregnanolone each day, for 4 days, and initial sensitivity and tolerance to allopregnanolone-induced hypothermia were assessed. On day 5, ethanol was administered to assess cross-tolerance. In a separate experiment, COLD-1 and 2 mice were made tolerant to ethanol's hypothermic effects, and challenged with allopregnanolone to assess cross-tolerance.

Results: COLD mice exhibited greater initial sensitivity to the hypothermic effect of allopregnanolone, as compared to HOT mice. Tolerance to allopregnanolone-induced hypothermia was greater in COLD mice than in HOT mice, but only COLD-1 mice showed cross-tolerance to ethanol. Both replicate lines of COLD mice developed tolerance following repeated administration of ethanol, but only COLD-2 mice showed cross-tolerance to allopregnanolone.

Conclusions: These results demonstrate shared genetic influence over allopregnanolone and ethanol's initial hypothermic effects. They also suggest genotype-dependent differences in the mechanisms for tolerance to these two compounds.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Body Temperature / drug effects*
  • Body Temperature / genetics
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Tolerance / genetics
  • Ethanol / pharmacology*
  • Female
  • Genotype
  • Gonadal Steroid Hormones / pharmacology
  • Hypothermia, Induced
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred Strains
  • Pregnanolone / pharmacology*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Species Specificity
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Gonadal Steroid Hormones
  • Ethanol
  • Pregnanolone