A silicone delivery system for producing binge and continuous ethanol intoxication in rats.

A silicone delivery system for administering large quantities of ethanol (ETOH) to rats is described. When implanted subcutaneously and filled with 95% ETOH (v/v), lethal quantities can be administered within 5 days. Two different models are described: a rapid release thin-walled silicone pillow which can be filled with 95% ETOH for 3 hours daily so as to induce binge-like, transient high blood ETOH levels and motor impairment, and a thicker pillow which can be filled daily with 84% ETOH (v/v) so as to produce continuous ETOH administration. When different groups of rats administered similar amounts of ETOH using these two different regimens were compared, it was found that caloric intake (food + ETOH) and body weight were reduced in the Binge group whereas the Continuous group gained weight although their total caloric intake was similar to Controls. This delivery system can deliver appreciable amounts of ETOH to rats in the absence of gustatory stimulation and in two intake patterns which have been reported to occur in alcoholics.