Rat brain cyclic AMP levels and withdrawal behavior following treatment with t-butanol.

1. The time course development of physical dependence as assessed by the withdrawal reaction was identical for ethanol and t-butanol. 2. t-Butanol is most likely not metabolized by the liver and is eliminated from the rat 6 to 7% as rapidly as ethanol. 3. Blood and brain acetaldehyde could not be detected following treatment with t-butanol. 4. At the peak of withdrawal, cyclic AMP levels were indistinguishable from control values following treatment with either ethanol or t-butanol.