I'm sorry to report that today we lost mouse 5-1. Chris said we're not allowed to name the mice, but I'll always remember him as Larry. We walked into the mouse room to check on them after the weekend only to be affronted by a foul smell. We proceeded to change out their water bottles and as we made our way to row 3 we came across poor Larry. He was part of the multiple withdrawal group but surpisingly his blood alcohol level was on the low end when we assayed it last Friday. By the time we found him he had already started autolysis. We said our parting words before we wrapped him up and sent him to the mousy morgue.

In other news, we reflilled their H2O and EtOH bottles and the data shows an emerging divergence between the control and multiple withdrawal group. This is good news! In order to inject the mice with GABA and Glu agonists and antagonists at the end of the lab, the mice have head mounts surgically put on. On the head mounts are lateral septum guide canulla that reach just in to the mice's lateral septum, bilaterally. They're verrrry tiny little metal tubes and I got the job of cleaning old ones by poking an even smaller metal wire through the tube to make sure nothing is blocking it.

To answer some more of Veronica's questions:

-why are the withdrawal symptoms temporary? Does the increase in glutamate receptor # decrease the next day, or does excess stimulation continue past the hangover symptoms? Sensitization means there is a proliferation of the receptors and desentization means their is a decrease of receptors (all in the post-synaptic cleft). Glutamate has a fairly rapid sensitization/desensitization. That's why alcohol detox takes only a couple of days to return to near homeostasis.
-slurred speech and impaired walking imply certain regions of the brain. I don't know if you covered this in bio, but do you have ideas about where ethanol might be acting to produce these particular results? It takes place in the motor cortex, if that's not too vague for you.
-what's the big deal about coconut water? H2O and electrolytes are in Gatorade and many other drinks. This is true but let me show you a little comparison of the two.

Gatorade (per 240 mL)

Sugars = 14g  Na+ = 110mg (This much sodium isn't necessary)  K+ = 30mg

Coconut Water (per 330 mL)

Sugars = 14g  Na+ = 60mg  K+ = 670mg  Ca2+ = 40mg  Mg2+ = 25mg  P = 17mg

BAM!

P.S. I forgot to add that I started the day off with a popped tire. Chris told me I didn't have to come in if it was too stressful but I'm glad I did or else I wouldn't have been able to report so vivdly on Larry. Always out with an eye towards my blog!