Science, Vol 229, Issue 4715, 772-774
Copyright © 1985 by American Association for the Advancement of Science
Ethanol withdrawal in mice precipitated and exacerbated by hyperbaric exposure
RL Alkana,
DA Finn,
GG Galleisky,
PJ Syapin,
and
RD Malcolm
Mice were fed an ethanol-containing liquid diet for 9 days. On removal of the diet, exposure to 12 atmospheres absolute of a mixture of helium and oxygen precipitated earlier withdrawal, increased withdrawal scores for the first 6 hours, and increased the peak withdrawal intensity compared to dependent animals exposed to control conditions. The enhanced withdrawal did not appear to reflect alterations in ethanol elimination, oxygen or helium partial pressures, body temperature, or general excitability. These results extend to chronically treated animals the evidence that hyperbaric exposure antagonizes the membrane actions of ethanol.
