Opposite effects of acute and chronic administration of alcohol on gastricemptying and small bowel transit in rat

The effects of acute and chronic administration of a large dose of alcohol on gastric emptying and small bowel transit were studied in rats. The devel opment of tolerance to the acute effect of alcohol on gastrointestinal moti lity during chronic alcohol administration was also investigated. Gastric e mptying and small intestinal transit were assessed by the Phenol Red recove ry method. Acutely, ethanol was given in a dose of 2.5 g/kg body wt by gava ge 30 min before the test meal. Chronically, ethanol was administered by tw o different methods: (1) a dose of 2.5 g/kg body wt was administered by gav age daily for 10 days; (2) animals received 15% ethanol in their drinking w ater for 30 days. A single large dose of alcohol inhibited gastric emptying and small bowel transit. Treatment with a large dose of alcohol for 10 day s did not change the gastric emptying significantly, but inhibited the smal l intestinal transit. Alcohol consumption in drinking water for 30 days acc elerated gastric emptying and small bowel transit, Tolerance to the acute i nhibitory effect of a single large dose of alcohol on gastrointestinal moti lity did not develop during chronic alcohol treatment.