Abstract
In order to assess the contribution of cerebellar effects of ethanol to the production of ataxia, “nervous” (nr/nr) and control (nr/+ or +/+) C3H mice were tested for locomotor ability 2 min after being given intraperitoneal ethanol injections. The nr/nr mice suffer from loss of most of their cerebellar Purkinje cells. Two doses of ethanol were used: 1.4 or 1.8 g/kg. There were three tests of locomotor ability: holding onto a tilting edge, grid walking, and Rota-rod (treadmill) walking. The result sindicate a primarily additive effect of ethanol and cerebellar pathology in the production of ataxia. The probable mechanism of this additive effect is the transient elimination of Purkinje cell activity following an ethanol injection.
References
Cochran W. G., Cox G. M.: Experimental designs (2nd ed.), pp. 92ff. New York: Wiley 1957
Eidelberg, E., Bond, M. L., Kelter, A.: Effects of alcohol on cerebellar and vestibular neurones. Arch. int. Pharmacodyn. 192, 213–219 (1971)
Harnett, D. L.: Introduction to statistical methods, chap. 12. Reading, Mass.: Addison-Wesley 1970
Hoffer, B. J., Siggins, G. R., Bloom, F. E.: Studies on norepinephrine-containing afferents to Purkinje cells of rat cerebellum. II. Sensitivity of Purkinje cells to norepinephrine and related substances administered by microiontophoresis. Brain Res. 25, 523–534 (1971a)
Hoffer, B. J., Siggins G. R., Oliver A. P., Bloom F. E.: Cyclic AMP mediation of norepinephrine inhibition in rat cerebellar cortex: A unique class of synaptic responses. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 185, 531–549 (1971b)
Sidman, R. L., Green, M. C.: “Nervous”, a new mutant mouse with cerebellar disease. In: Les mutants pathologiques chez l'animal. M. Soboundy, ed. Paris: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique 1970
Volicer, L., Gold, B. L.: Effect of ethanol on cyclic AMP levels in the rat brain. Life Sci. 13, 269–280 (1973)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Northup, L.R. Additive effects of ethanol and purkinje cell loss in the production of ataxia in mice. Psychopharmacology 48, 189–192 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00423259
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00423259