Optical spectroscopy and prevention of deleterious cerebral vascular effects of ethanol by magnesium ions

Previously, it has been suggested that acute ethanol (alcohol) administration can result in concentration-dependent vasoconstriction and decreased cerebral blood flow. Here, we present in vivo results using rapid (240 nm/min) optical backscatter measurements, with an intact cranial preparation in the rat, indicating that acute infusion of ethanol directly into the rat brain rapidly produces dose-dependent vasoconstriction of the cerebral microcirculation associated with a pronounced reduction in tissue blood content, pronounced rises in deoxyhemoglobin, significantly increased levels of reduced cytochrome oxidase and microvascular damage as the dose increases. Furthermore, we present in vivo experiments demonstrating the capability of magnesium ions (Mg²⁺) to attenuate and prevent these deleterious responses. Optical backscatter spectra (500-800 nm) were obtained by directing a single sending and receiving fiber to a portion of the left parietal cranium (in anesthetized rats), shaved to a translucent appearance to facilitate optical penetration. In the absence of added Mg²⁺, infusion of a 10% solution of ethanol at 0.34 ml/min (∼26.8 mg/min) produced prompt vasoconstriction as evidenced by a greater than 90% loss of oxyhemoglobin from the field-of-view and increases in levels of reduced cytochrome oxidase to between 50% and >90%. These effects were partially, to nearly completely, attenuated by the addition of MgCl₂ to the infusate containing added ethanol. Of special interest was the observation that attenuation of the vasoconstrictive effect of ethanol by Mg²⁺ persisted despite a subsequent ethanol challenge without added Mg²⁺. The results obtained demonstrate that, depending on dose, ethanol can produce prompt and severe vasoconstriction of the intact cerebral microcirculation and that infusion of moderate doses of Mg²⁺ can largely attenuate and prevent this response. We conclude that appreciable, graded changes in cerebral cytochrome oxidase aa₃, blood volume and the state of hemoglobin occur at minimal tissue levels of ethanol which can be modulated by Mg²⁺.