The Dilute Locus,Pyridoxine Deficiency,and Audiogenic Seizures in Mice. ∗

Abstract

Summary

To determine whether the dilute locus was associated with a greater behavioral need for pyridoxine and to ascertain the effects of this locus per se on audiogenic seizure severity in mice, the dilute gene was varied over several backgrounds. C57Bl/6J, DBA/2J, first and second filial generations and backcrosses were made sensitive to audiogenic seizures by acoustic priming at age 21 days, placed on regimens of 0, 15, or 30 mg pyridoxine HCl/kg diet for 14 days, and then tested for audiogenic seizures. It was concluded that: 1) lack of pyridoxine enhanced audiogenic seizure severity; 2) the dilute locus per se was not associated with a difference of audiogenic seizure severity; 3) the dilute gene was not associated with a greater behavioral need for pyridoxine, as measured by audiogenic seizures; and 4) the DBA/2J was recessive to the C57Bl/6J for audiogenic seizure severity under the conditions of this experiment.