Alpha-Tocopherol Counteracts the Effect of Ethanol on Cortical Spreading Depression in Rats of Various Ages, With and Without Ethanol Abstinence

BackgroundWe previously demonstrated that acute and chronic treatment with ethanol (EtOH), respectively, decelerated and accelerated the propagation of cortical spreading depression (CSD) in rats and that the antioxidant carotenoid astaxanthin counteracted these effects. Here, we investigated whether noncarotenoid antioxidants exert the same action by testing -tocopherol in rats of various ages, with and without 5 to 10days of EtOH abstinence. MethodsMale Wistar young adult (60 to 80days old) and mature adult (150 to 180days old) rats received per gavage acute (1day) or chronic (21days) treatment with 3g/kg/d EtOH combined with acute (300mg/kg) or chronic (85mg/kg/d) treatment with -tocopherol or vehicle-only treatment (olive oil and water for -tocopherol and EtOH, respectively). CSD was recorded over 4hours and the velocity of CSD propagation was calculated. On both ages, animals under chronic EtOH treatment were subjected to CSD recording immediately after EtOH treatment or after a 5- to 10-day period of EtOH abstinence. ResultsIn both age groups, acute and chronic EtOH exposure decelerated and accelerated CSD, respectively, versus the corresponding control groups. Addition of -tocopherol counteracted the effects of EtOH on CSD, returning CSD velocities to levels in control groups (p<0.05). Chronic -tocopherol (85mg/kg/d) did not alter CSD. ConclusionsOur data reinforce the counteracting role of antioxidants on brain processes involved in the action of EtOH on CSD and suggest that this role is not a particular property of carotenoids; furthermore, this general feature of antioxidants is not substantially influenced by age or by 5 to 10days of EtOH abstinence.