The ethanol sensitivity of calcium taken up by a depolarization-dependent process in mouse strains DBA and C57BL.

In vitro effects of ethanol on calcium taken up by synaptosomes were examined in two strains of mice, C57BL and DBA, that exhibit marked differences in alcohol sensitivity and preference. There were no significant strain differences in basal or depolarization-dependent synaptosomal calcium levels. Ethanol did not reduce the basal calcium level but instead reduced depolarization-dependent calcium levels with the same potency in both strains. These results do not support a role for changes of calcium levels as the basis for differences in ethanol sensitivity in these mouse strains.