Physical dependence following prolonged ethanol or t-butanol administration to rats.

Rats were fed on liquid diets containing ethanol or t-butanol. On removal of either alcohol from the diet after 4-20 days, withdrawal reactions were observed. The range of withdrawal signs produced by the two alcohols were identical although the time course of the withdrawal reactions differed. Administration of one alcohol prevented the appearance of a withdrawal reaction in rats dependent on the other alcohol. Depletion of brain noradrenaline and dopamine did not prevent the development of physical dependence on either alcohol. Thus, neither aldehyde formation nor brain catecholamines appear to be involved in the development of physical dependence on these alcohols.