Studies of Whole Blood Associated Acetaldehyde as a Marker for Alcohol Intake in Mice

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Abstract
Thirty C57Bl mice were randomized into two groups. Group 1 sewed as controls while Group 2 was given 10% V/V ethanol with the drinking water. Whole blood‐ associated acetaldehyde (WBAA) was measured on capillary blood samples using a fluorigenic high performance chromatographic assay. WBAA peaked at Day 2. A stable mean plateau of 263 ± 71 SD with a range of 160–400 nmoles/g hemoglobin WBAA was found in the group consuming ethanol compared with 122 ± 17 SD and a range of 88–150 nmoles/g hemoglobin for controls (p < 0.001). When ethanol was discontinued, levels of WBAA declined and became similar to those of controls by 9 days following cessation of ethanol. The quantitative difference between ethanol‐consuming and control animals and also the rapid rise of whole blood‐associated acetaldehyde and the relatively slow decline following cessation of ethanol intake indicate that such a test might be a useful monitor of drinking behavior.