Rate of Metabolism of Ethanol in the Rat

Abstract

Rats, fasted 18 hours, were injected intraperitoneally with 2.85 or 3.0 gm/ kg of ethanol. Blood samples were obtained 1.5 and 4.5 hours later. The entire rat was ground and mixed. The ethanol concentration of blood and tissues was determined. The rate of metabolism was lower and the factor r higher when calculated from the declining blood values than when determined directly. The factor r did not bear a close relation to total body water or ether-extract. The rate of alcohol metabolism varied from animal to animal within the species despite efforts to maintain constant experimental conditions.