A bioassay of ethanol-dependence in rats

A bioassay for the quantitative assessment of ethanol dependence in rat is proposed. It is based upon the alleviation by ethanol of the withdrawal syndrome in previously intoxicated animals. The conditioning by ethanol of a taste preference, linearly related to the duration of the previous chronic intoxication, provides a reliable measure of the level of ethanol dependence. In addition, the results display the neurobehavioural mechanism by which self-maintained intoxication is established in physically dependent rats and humans.