Disentangling the contributions of brain-derived versus peripheral alcohol metabolism to its pharmacological effects has been challenging due to the lack of specific in vivo tools. However, recent technical advances in preclinical models are furthering our understanding of alcohol brain metabolism. Recently, investigators developed an innovative device that allows in vivo microdialysis to simultaneously sample brain alcohol, acetaldehyde, and acetate while animals are ingesting alcohol (150). Demonstrating the in vivo ethanol brain metabolism, they show that acetate concentrations rise even in animals with a low alcohol intake. This technique will allow the investigation of brain region-specific metabolism and its associated behavioral effects.
