Retention of functional tolerance to ethanol in rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta).

Tolerance to ethanol (3 g/kg 90 min prior to testing) was assessed in a group of 4 rhesus monkeys in which tolerance development had been observed using the same behavioral task one year prior to the present study. Although some decrements in performance on a two-choice discrimination reversal learning task were observed, these changes were transient and statistically insignificant. Results indicate that functional tolerance persisted throughout a one year abstinence period.