The effect of ethanol on regional cerebral metabolic rate for glucose (rCMRglc) was studied in rats using [6-14C]glucose. After intravenous injection, radioactivity was determined in 14 brain regions, corrected for loss of label, and divided by the integral of the arterial plasma glucose concentration measured during tracer circulation. When blood ethanol concentration was maintained at 6 g/l by intravenous infusion of ethanol for approximately 1 h, rCMRglc was found to be reduced significantly in 7 forebrain regions, compared to values of conscious control animals. In 7 further regions including brain stem regions, rCMRglc was not significantly reduced. We conclude that the effects of severe acute alcohol intoxication resemble those of global anesthesia.