Effect of ethanol administration to male rats on serum levels of GABAergic neuroactive steroids. Ethanol (0.8, 1.5 and 2 g/kg, 20% v/v in saline) or saline were administered i.p. 60 minutes before sacrifice. Levels are expressed as pg/ml and are average ± SEM of ten rats in the saline-treated group and eleven rats in the ethanol-treated groups. 3α,5β-THP was detected only in 4/10 rats in the saline-treated group and 4/11, 4/11 and 8/11 rats in the ethanol-treated groups at 0.8, 1.5 and 2.0 g/kg, respectively. 3α,5β-THDOC and 3α,5β-androstandiol were undetectable (n.d.). *p<0.001 vs the respective saline-treated control values; one-way ANOVA followed by Newman-Keuls post hoc test.