BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVELS IN RATS: NON‐UNIFORM YIELDS FROM INTRAPERITONEAL DOSES BASED ON BODY WEIGHT

Abstract

1 Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 72) weighing from 125 to 450 g were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with 16% (w/v) ethanol to provide 1, 2, or 3 g/kg doses. 2 Resulting blood alcohol levels (BALs) demonstrated a general inadequacy of dose/body weight (g/kg) formulations of ethanol to provide uniform BALs in animals of different weights. 3 BAL differences between heavier and lighter rats were not well accounted for by developmental changes in liver weight or alcohol dehydrogenase activity. 4 From the data, a table was derived of more appropriate ethanol injection volumes to produce 0–300 mg% BALs (20 mg% increments) in rats from 100–500 g (10 g increments).