I - FUNCTIONAL CONSEQUENCES OF INTRAGASTRICALLY ADMINISTERED ETHANOL IN RATS AS MEASURED BY THE 2-[C-14]DEOXYGLUOCSE METHOD

The 2-[C-14] deoxyglucose (2DG) method was used to examine the effects of the acute, intragastric (IG) administration of ethanol on rates of local cerebral glucose utilization (LCGU) in male Sprague-Dawley rats , The 2DG technique was initiated 3 min after the administration of 0. 25, 1.0, or 2.0 g/kg ethanol. Each dose of ethanol examined produced a discrete pattern of change in functional activity, The administration of 0.25 g/kg ethanol increased LCGU in structures of the mesocorticol imbic and nigrostriatal circuits. The administration of 1.0 and 2.0 g/ kg ethanol, however, produced a more limited pattern of changes in LCG U, with increases observed primarily in the mesocorticolimbic circuit, the increases in functional activity observed after the administratio n of the 0.25 g/kg ethanol dose were more widespread, and generally of larger magnitude, as compared to the 1.0 and 2.0 g/kg ethanol doses. These data indicate that structures of the mesocorticolimbic system ar e particularly sensitive to the effects of both low and high doses of ethanol when the effects are measured on the ascending limb of the blo od ethanol curve.