Development of physical dependence on t-butanol in rats: an examination using schedule-induced drinking

Rats were exposed to various concentrations of t-butanol as their only available fluid in either the home cage or a schedule-induced drinking situation previously shown to induce overdrinking of ethanol. When animals consumed at least 3 g/kg/day of t-butanol for 90 days, independent of conditions, withdrawal symptoms were observed. This daily intake occurred only when the concentration of t-butanol was 3% (v/v) or greater. The schedule-induction procedure did not induce t-butanol overdrinking at any concentration tested as it does with ethanol, but its use did result in increased probability of the occurrence of withdrawal symptoms over the home cage condition. In no cases was the severity of withdrawal from t-butanol as great as previously reported for ethanol. When the concentration of t-butanol was increased to 3.5% (v/v), severe toxic reactions were found, that included anorexia, self-mutilation, and deaths from no specific determinable causes.