A comparison of ethanol absorption and narcosis in long- and short-sleep mice following intraperitoneal or intragastric ethanol administration.

Blood ethanol concentrations (BEC) were determined in Long-Sleep (LS) and Short-Sleep (SS) mice during a 30 min period following ethanol (ETOH) administration. Absorption of ETOH was rapid and followed a similar time course in the two lines after intraperitoneal (IP) administration of 3.8 or 4.5 g/kg. Following intragastric (IG) administration, slower absorption and lower peak BECs were noted in both lines, but in LS mice this effect was more pronounced. The two routes of administration were not effective in altering duration of loss of the righting reflex (LRR), or waking BECs following 4.5 g/kg ETOH. LS mice had the expected longer LRR durations and lower BECs at waking than did SS mice. Differences in absorption rate and peak BEC are concluded to be unrelated to ETOH neurosensitivity in these mice.