Voluntary ethanol consumption in rats: an examination of blood/brain ethanol levels and behavior

The temporal pattern of food, water, and ethanol consumption was examined in rats maintained on a 24-hr ethanol access schedule. These data demonstrated that rats consume ethanol in discrete, short bouts mainly during the lights-out cycle. Simulation of a single ethanol drinking bout was carried out by limiting ethanol access to a short time period each day. Detectable levels of blood and brain ethanol were observed following these individual drinking bouts. Behavioral evidence is provided indicating that rats drink ethanol in quantities sufficient to produce pharmacological effects.