Ethanol potentiation of central nervous system trauma

Two models have been used to study the effects of ethanol on injuries of the central nervous system. The spinal cords of cats were injured by delivering a 200 gm cm impact to the exposed dura mater. A second group of animals received a similar injury to the exposed dura mater overlying the cerebral hemispheres. The animals were divided into two groups, those that received an infusion of ethanol before injury, and control animals that received no ethanol. The injuries produced were small and insignificant lesions in the animals which had received no ethanol; however, when the animals were pretreated with ethanol, a considerable increase in the extent of the injury was noted. The mechanisms by which this potentiation is produced are briefly discussed. These include alterations in membrane bound enzymes and clotting mechanisms, and alteration of cell membranes through abnormal free radical reactions.