title: Concentrations of ethanol in rebreathed air of rats: correlation with the discriminative stimulus effects of ethanol.
abstract: We modified the method of Pohorecky and Brick (14) for determination of ethanol (ETOH) concentrations in rebreathed air of rats. Rats were injected with different doses (1-2 g/kg) of ETOH and both arterial blood and rebreathed air samples were collected at various time intervals (15-120 min) after administration. We found a very good correlation (r = .96) between ETOH concentrations in arterial blood and in rebreathed air; the blood/breath conversion factor (+/- SEM) was 3241 +/- 55. In the second part of the study, rats were trained to discriminate between IP administered ETOH (1.2 g/kg) and the saline vehicle (12 ml/kg). Training occurred 15 min after administrations. Once trained to reliably differentiate between ETOH/saline training sessions, different doses (0.6, 0.9 and 1.2 g/kg) of ETOH were examined at various time intervals (1, 7.5, 15, 30, 60, 120 and 240 min) after administrations on certain test days. The results indicated a good correlation (r = .65) between the discriminative stimulus effects of ETOH and the concentrations measured in rebreathed air. The behavioral effects as well as the concentrations of ETOH in rebreathed air have a fast onset. The peak occurred 7.5 min after injection, and both the stimulus effects and concentrations of ETOH were time- and dose-dependent.
authors.affiliation: University of Uppsala, Department of Clinical Psychology, Sweden.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Hiltunen
authors.forename: T U
authors.initials: TU
authors.lastname: Järbe
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hellström-Lindahl
authors.forename: L B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Croon
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001944:Breath Tests; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol