Temperature affects ethanol lethality in C57BL/6, 129, LS and SS mice

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Abstract

The effect of ambient and body temperature on ethanol lethality in inbred strains and selected lines of mice was investigated. C57BL/6J, 129/J, LS/Ibg and SS/Ibg mice were exposed to 23 or 34°C following IP injection of lethal ethanol doses (8.2, 6.0, 6.5 or 7.0 g/kg ethanol, respectively). All mice exposed to 23°C during intoxication became markedly hypothermic, with mean body temperatures dropping to lows of 27.9, 30.0, 33.0 and 33.3°C in C57, LS, SS and 129 animals, respectively. Compared to the 23°C groups, exposure to 34°C offset the ethanol-induced hypothermia and significantly increased percent mortality in all four mouse genotypes. Exposure to 34°C increased mortality at 24 hours postinjection from 15% to 95% in SS mice, from 37.5% to 100% in 129 mice and from 50% to 100% in LS and C57 mice. Blood ethanol data suggest that the present results cannot be explained by temperature-related changes in ethanol elimination. These results provide further evidence that body temperature during intoxication can have major effects on mortality rates in mice.

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