A simple technique for quantifying intoxication-induced by low doses of ethanol.
A simple technique for the measurement of intoxication induced by low doses of alcohol in the rat was developed. Rats are required to maintained their balance on a rectangular wooden bar that oscillates in a 120 degree angle in an arch-like fashion. A steady baseline can be obtained for each animal with approximately 10 min of training time. Ethanol, in a dose range from 0.5-1.5 g/kg, given orally or by IP route, impairs animal's performance in a dose-related manner. At the same blood ethanol concentration, a higher degree of impairment is observed at higher oscillating frequency. Significant impairment of performance can be detected at ethanol dose of 0.5 g/kg given IP or orally. Pentobarbital and chlordiazepoxide, in doses of comparable potencies to those of ethanol doses also produce a dose-related impairment of performance. The oscillating bar test is a simple but sensitive test that can qualitatively assess intoxication induced by low doses of ethanol or other sedative hypnotic drugs.
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Addiction Research Foundation of Ontario, Toronto, Canada.
Israel
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D000284:Administration, Oral; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000523:psychology*; D000818:Animals; D002707:Chlordiazepoxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008297:Male; D010424:Pentobarbital / Q000494:pharmacology; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000187:drug effects; D011589:Psychology, Experimental / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D000431:Ethanol; D002707:Chlordiazepoxide; D010424:Pentobarbital