4.0 T water proton T1 relaxation times in normal human brain and during acute ethanol intoxication.
BACKGROUND
It has been reported that acute ethanol intoxication decreases the brain water proton magnetic resonance T1 values, an effect that has been interpreted to indicate brain dehydration during this condition. Because water macromolecular interactions largely determine tissue water T1, another possible explanation for reduced brain water proton T1 values is that the interaction between water and brain macromolecules is altered by ethanol.


METHODS
A 4.0 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) instrument was used to measure brain water proton T1 relaxation times before, during, and after ethanol intoxication (dose, 0.75 mg/kg) in healthy controls.


RESULTS
The T1 relaxation times as assessed with MRI were highly reproducible. The mean, paired ethanol-induced differences in T1 were -0.004 +/- 0.007 sec (mean +/- standard deviation) for white matter and 0.010 +/- 0.015 sec for internal gray matter structures, neither of which was significant.


CONCLUSIONS
This reasonably sensitive measurement does not support the view that tissue water content or water macromolecule interactions are significantly altered in the brain during acute alcohol intoxication in otherwise healthy subjects.
Rooney
W D
WD
Chemistry Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973-5000, USA.
Lee
J H
JH
Li
X
X
Wang
G J
GJ
Franceschi
D
D
Springer
C S
CS
Volkow
N D
ND
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000187:drug effects; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D001834:Body Water / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011522:Protons
D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D011522:Protons; D000431:Ethanol