Acute and chronic effects of ethanol on cortical excitability.
OBJECTIVE
We designed this study to find out whether 5Hz repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) would disclose changes in cortical plasticity after acute intake of ethanol and in patients with chronic alcohol consumption.


METHODS
Ten stimuli-5Hz-rTMS trains were applied over the primary motor cortex in 10 healthy subjects before and after acute ethanol intake and in 13 patients with chronic ethanol abuse, but negative blood ethanol levels when studied. The motor evoked potential (MEP) amplitude and the cortical silent period (CSP) duration during the course of rTMS trains were measured. Short-interval intracortical inhibition (3ms) and intracortical facilitation (10ms) were studied by paired-pulse TMS in 4 healthy subjects and 4 patients.


RESULTS
In healthy subjects before and after acute ethanol intake, 5Hz-rTMS produced a significant increase in the MEP size and CSP duration during rTMS. The first CSP in the train was significantly longer after than before ethanol intake. In patients 5Hz-rTMS failed to produce the normal MEP facilitation but left the CSP increase unchanged.


CONCLUSIONS
Acute and chronic ethanol intake alters cortical excitability and short-term plasticity of the primary motor cortex as tested by the MEP size facilitation and CSP lengthening after 5Hz-rTMS.


CONCLUSIONS
This finding suggests that rTMS is a valid tool for investigating the effects of ethanol on cortical plasticity in humans.
Conte
A
A
Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Rome "Sapienza", Viale dell'Università, 30, 00185, Rome, Italy; Institute Neuromed, Pozzilli, Isernia, Italy.
Attilia
M L
ML
Ethanol Liver Disease Unit, University of Rome "Sapienza", Rome, Italy.
Gilio
F
F
Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Rome "Sapienza", Viale dell'Università, 30, 00185, Rome, Italy.
Iacovelli
E
E
Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Rome "Sapienza", Viale dell'Università, 30, 00185, Rome, Italy.
Frasca
V
V
Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Rome "Sapienza", Viale dell'Università, 30, 00185, Rome, Italy.
Bettolo
C Marini
CM
Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Rome "Sapienza", Viale dell'Università, 30, 00185, Rome, Italy.
Gabriele
M
M
Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Rome "Sapienza", Viale dell'Università, 30, 00185, Rome, Italy.
Giacomelli
E
E
Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Rome "Sapienza", Viale dell'Università, 30, 00185, Rome, Italy.
Prencipe
M
M
Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Rome "Sapienza", Viale dell'Università, 30, 00185, Rome, Italy.
Berardelli
A
A
Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Rome "Sapienza", Viale dell'Università, 30, 00185, Rome, Italy; Institute Neuromed, Pozzilli, Isernia, Italy.
Ceccanti
M
M
Ethanol Liver Disease Unit, University of Rome "Sapienza", Rome, Italy.
Inghilleri
M
M
Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Rome "Sapienza", Viale dell'Università, 30, 00185, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: maurizio.inghilleri@uniroma1.it.
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013181:Cortical Spreading Depression / Q000187:drug effects; D004056:Differential Threshold / Q000187:drug effects; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D000431:Ethanol