Ethanol exposure in rats: studies on blood gas concentrations, pH and temperature

The effects of different dosages of ethanol on respiration were determined by evaluating arterial blood PCO2, PO2 and pH in rats. Adult, male Sprague Dawley rats were treated per os with either 2, 4 or 6 g/kg of ethanol; controls received deionized water. Blood was sampled from an indwelling femoral artery catheter before treatment and 15, 30, 60, 120, 180 and 240 min posttreatment. Serum ethanol levels and body temperature was measured concurrently on all animals. This study demonstrates that ethanol ingestion results in a dose-dependent metabolic acidosis and hypothermia in rats. In addition, the highest dose of ethanol, 6 g/kg, resulted in hypoxia.