CHRONIC ALCOHOLIZATION IN RATS BY FREE-CHOICE INGESTION OF A HYDROALCOHOLIC SOLUTION

The present work addresses a schedule designed to render rats alcoholi c by offering them free access to a 20% (v/v) ethanol solution over 6 weeks. A solid diet and water (for controls) were fully available ad l ib. in the animals' cages. The treatment was observed to achieve some effects suitable for the chronic alcoholization of rats: (1) Ethanol f urnished the 36% of the calories of the diet of ethanol-treated rats; (2) The daily ethanol intake achieved was 12.05 +/- 1.18 g ethanol/kg weight; (3). The morning blood ethanol level was 0.45g/litre; (4) Etha nol-treated rats deprived of ethanol showed several withdrawal symptom s. These results agree with those obtained by standard liquid diets, s uggesting that the current protocol can be used to achieve a status of chronic alcoholization in rats. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All ri ghts reserved.