title: alpha-Tocopherol attenuates alcohol-induced cerebral vascular damage in rats: possible role of oxidants in alcohol brain pathology and stroke.
abstract: Effects of chronic (14 day) pretreatment of timed-release of alpha-tocopherol (approximately 1.25-5 mg/day) on alcohol-induced venular cerebrovasospasm, microvessel rupture and micro-hemorrhaging was studied by direct, quantitative in-vivo high-resolution TV microscopy of the intact rat brain. Sham animals chronically treated with placebo exhibited concentration-dependent venular cerebrovasospasm, microvessel rupture and focal hemorrhages, irrespective of route (i.e. perivascular, systemic) of ethanol administration. alpha-Tocopherol pretreatment either prevented or ameliorated greatly the cerebrovasospasm and vascular damage induced by ethanol. These results suggest that alcohol-induced cerebral vascular and brain damage by reperfusion injury events triggers lipid peroxidation of vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cell membranes; these pro-oxidant events could play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of alcohol-induced cerebral ischemia and stroke.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, SUNY Health Science Center at Brooklyn 11203, USA.
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Altura
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gebrewold
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology*; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000633:toxicity*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000187:drug effects; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004343:Drug Implants; D000431:Ethanol / Q000633:toxicity*; D002534:Hypoxia, Brain / Q000517:prevention & control; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D016877:Oxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D004343:Drug Implants; D016877:Oxidants; D014810:Vitamin E; D000431:Ethanol