Blood alcohol levels were determined by NAD+ reduction assay (Sigma Diagnostics, St. Louis MO.). Peak BAL was measured in 4 rats that were not included in any of the experimental protocol groups. These animals were killed by decapitation 60 minutes after a single ip injection of 20% (vol./vol.) ethanol/saline solution. The timing of peak BAL after ip injection was estimated based on a previous study that evaluated the pharmacokinetic profile of a 3 g/kg i.p. alcohol injection in rats (Nation et al., 1993).
