A simple technique for quantifying intoxication-induced by low doses of ethanol.

A simple technique for the measurement of intoxication induced by low doses of alcohol in the rat was developed. Rats are required to maintained their balance on a rectangular wooden bar that oscillates in a 120 degree angle in an arch-like fashion. A steady baseline can be obtained for each animal with approximately 10 min of training time. Ethanol, in a dose range from 0.5-1.5 g/kg, given orally or by IP route, impairs animal's performance in a dose-related manner. At the same blood ethanol concentration, a higher degree of impairment is observed at higher oscillating frequency. Significant impairment of performance can be detected at ethanol dose of 0.5 g/kg given IP or orally. Pentobarbital and chlordiazepoxide, in doses of comparable potencies to those of ethanol doses also produce a dose-related impairment of performance. The oscillating bar test is a simple but sensitive test that can qualitatively assess intoxication induced by low doses of ethanol or other sedative hypnotic drugs.