title: Ethanol modulates the neurovascular coupling.
abstract: Despite some evidence of the underlying molecular mechanisms the neuronal basis of ethanol-induced effects on the neurovascular coupling that forms the BOLD (blood oxygenation level dependent) signal is poorly understood. In a recent fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) study monitoring ethanol-induced changes of the BOLD signal a reduction of the amplitude and a prolongation of the BOLD signal were observed. However, the BOLD signal is assumed to consist of a complex superposition of different underlying signals. To gain insight how ethanol influences stimulus efficacy, oxygen extraction, transit time and vessel-related parameters the fMRI time series from the sensori-motor and the visual cortex were analyzed using the balloon model. The results show a region-dependent decrease of the stimulus efficacy to trigger a post-stimulus neurovascular response as well as a prolongation of the transit time through the venous compartment. Oxygen extraction, feedback mechanisms and other vessel-related parameters were not affected. The results may be interpreted as follows: the overall mechanisms of the neurovascular coupling are still acting well at the moderate ethanol level of about 0.8‰ (in particular the vessel-related parts), but the potency to evoke a neurovascular response is already compromised most obviously in the supplementary motor area responsible for complex synchronizing and planning processes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Institute for Biometry and Medical Informatics, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany. michael.luchtmann@med.ovgu.de
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Luchtmann
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jachau
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Adolf
authors.forename: Friedrich-Wilhelm
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Röhl
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baecke
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lützkendorf
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bernarding
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000187:drug effects; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009043:Motor Activity; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D013997:Time Factors; D014793:Visual Cortex / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D000431:Ethanol; D010100:Oxygen