Sex differences in acetaldehyde on body temperature and open-field performance in the rat

Using the open field, for making an overall assessment of behavioural change in response to acetaldehyde (AcH) treatment, the results from the present study demonstrate that AcH produces behavioural and physiological effects similar to those of ethanol. High doses of AcH produced a similar degree of change as high doses of ethanol. Both compounds render the animal incapable of locomotor activities, such as ambulation and rearing and both produce a decrease of 2-3 degrees C in body temperature. AcH, however, appears to be a much more potent compound as behavioural and physiological changes are exhibited even after a dose of 10 mg/kg, while the dose of ethanol necessary to produce a decrease in open-field behaviour is at least 10 times as much. Females were more sensitive to the effects of AcH at the 100 mg/kg dose.