Acute tolerance to ethanol in the rat

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Abstract
Male Wistar rats were examined on the moving belt test at approximately 10, 30 and 60 min after administration of ethanol in doses ranging from 1.0–2.8 g/kg. Immediately after the test, each animal was sacrificed and ethanol concentrations were measured. The regression line of impairment as a function of brain alcohol concentration showed a progressive shift toward higher brain levels with increasing time after alcohol administration. The results confirm the existence of acute tolerance to ethanol, as defined by reduced impairment of function for a given blood level on the falling versus the rising arm of the blood alcohol curve. Confusion of interpretation due to arterio-venous differences in alcohol concentration was ruled out by simultaneous measurements in arterial blood and brain. Practice effects were ruled out by testing each animal only once.