Brain ascorbic acid levels: mice and rats selected for differences in acute reactions to ethanol.

There are variations of ascorbic acid levels in different brain areas of mice and rats. However, there are no differences in ascorbic acid levels between lines of mice selectively bred for differences in ethanol sensitivity for 25 generations. Thus, it is unlikely that brain ascorbic acid plays a significant role in the acute sedative effects of ethanol in these mice. Studies with inbred strains of mice known to differ in ethanol preference, acute sensitivity and withdrawal sensitivity also failed to reveal any differences in brain ascorbic acid levels. There were differences in ascorbic acid content between selectively bred lines of rats in various brain areas at generation five of selection.