Intragastric cannulation as a method of ethanol administration for neuroendocrine studies

A technique for implanting an intragastric cannula in the rat is described along with the usefulness of this technique for the periodic administration of ethanol (ETOH). Our results indicate that rats receiving ETOH (3.0 g/kg) every eight hours for three days exhibit approximately a 37% (p less than 0.05) depression in serum luteinizing hormone (LH) levels, with approximately a 40% (p less than 0.025) increase in serum prolactin (Prl) levels when compared with rats receiving saline only. These results are similar to those acute effects observed following multiple IP administration of ETOH; however, the intragastric route of delivery provides an animal model for studying the effects of ETOH on the hypothalamo-hypophysial-unit with only a minimum amount of stress to the animal. Advantages of this technique are discussed in comparison with other methods of ETOH administration and their effects on the hypothalamic-LH axis.