title: Behavioral effects of ethanol inhalation in rats.
abstract: Behavioral effects of ethanol inhalation were studied on two fixed-ratio (FR) liquid-reinforced schedules and a continuous reinforcement (CRF) schedule intracranial self-stimulation (SS) in rats using the inhalational behavioral chamber designed in our laboratory. In the FR-24 schedule ethanol caused a decrease of reinforcement rate at 161 ppm and higher concentrations. In the FR-50 schedule decreases of the rate were observed at 102 ppm and 203 ppm. In the SS behavior ethanol produced a decrease in the rate of reinforcement at 603 ppm and higher concentrations. In rats of this schedule, blood ethanol concentrations were measured to be 393 micrograms/ml and 545 micrograms/ml after exposure to 600 ppm and 1200 ppm of ethanol respectively. Acute tolerance to ethanol was observed in these experiments, particularly in the FR-24 schedule. Thus ethanol inhalation could produce adequate blood concentrations so as to produce behavioral effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC 20059.
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Ghosh
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Copeland
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Alex
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Pradhan
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D012653:Self Stimulation / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol