An analysis of licking microstructure in three strains of mice.

Mouse models of feeding provide a useful tool for elucidating the molecular pathways of energy regulation. The majority of studies in mice have been limited to intake analyses conducted over extended periods of time, which fail to distinguish between a variety of factors that influence nutrient intake. Using licking microstructure analyses we examined both the size and number of licking bursts for water, polycose, sucrose and lecithin in three strains of mice (C57BL/6J, 129Sv/ImJ and C57129F1 hybrids), using pause criteria (250-500, >500 and >1000 ms) that have previously been described in the rat. Burst size and number varied both as a function of tastant concentration and mouse strain; however, these differences were most evident with the >1000 ms pause criterion. Consistent with previous reports, during water consumption C57 mice showed longer mean interlick intervals, a larger number of bursts but reduced burst size relative to the two other strains. F1 mice showed larger burst sizes for polycose, while C57 mice displayed a greater number of bursts for both polycose and sucrose. Both 129 and F1 mice were insensitive to sucrose concentration, whereas C57 mice showed attenuated lecithin intake influenced by a reduction in the size of bursts for this tastant. These results suggest that these strains of mice display differences in the pattern of licking that are most evident with the use of larger pause criteria. These differences in licking behavior might reflect influences of genetic background on pre- and post-ingestive factors controlling intake, the reinforcing properties of each tastant, or native differences in licking style.

Johnson AW ，Sherwood A ，Smith DR ，Wosiski-Kuhn M ，Gallagher M ，Holland PC ... -  《-》

Analytical issues in the evaluation of food deprivation and sucrose concentration effects on the microstructure of licking behavior in the rat.

Spector AC ，Klumpp PA ，Kaplan JM 《BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE》

Enhanced sucrose and Polycose preference in sweet "sensitive" (C57BL/6J) and "subsensitive" (129P3/J) mice after experience with these saccharides.

Sclafani A 《PHYSIOLOGY & BEHAVIOR》

T1R2 and T1R3 subunits are individually unnecessary for normal affective licking responses to Polycose: implications for saccharide taste receptors in mice.

Treesukosol Y ，Blonde GD ，Spector AC 《-》

Genetic control of oromotor phenotypes: A survey of licking and ingestive behaviors in highly diverse strains of mice.

In order to examine genetic influences on fluid ingestion, 20-min intake of either water or 0.1M sucrose was measured in a lickometer in 18 isogenic strains of mice, including 15 inbred strains and 3 F1 hybrid crosses. Intake and licking data were examined at a number of levels, including lick rate as defined by mean or median interlick interval, as well as several microstructural parameters (i.e. burst-pause structure). In general, strain variation for ingestive phenotypes were correlated across water and sucrose in all strains, indicating fundamental, rather than stimulus-specific, mechanisms of intake. Strain variation was substantial and robust, with heritabilities for phenotypes ranging from 0.22 to 0.73. For mean interlick interval (MPI; a measure of lick rate) strains varied continuously from 94.3 to 127.0ms, a range consistent with previous studies. Furthermore, variation among strains for microstructural traits such as burst size and number suggested that strains possess different overall ingestive strategies, with some favoring more short bursts, and others favoring fewer, long bursts. Strains also varied in cumulative intake functions, exhibiting both linear and decelerated rates of intake across the session.

St John SJ ，Lu L ，Williams RW ，Saputra J ，Boughter JD Jr ... -  《-》