alpha-Tocopherol attenuates alcohol-induced cerebral vascular damage in rats: possible role of oxidants in alcohol brain pathology and stroke.

Effects of chronic (14 day) pretreatment of timed-release of alpha-tocopherol (approximately 1.25-5 mg/day) on alcohol-induced venular cerebrovasospasm, microvessel rupture and micro-hemorrhaging was studied by direct, quantitative in-vivo high-resolution TV microscopy of the intact rat brain. Sham animals chronically treated with placebo exhibited concentration-dependent venular cerebrovasospasm, microvessel rupture and focal hemorrhages, irrespective of route (i.e. perivascular, systemic) of ethanol administration. alpha-Tocopherol pretreatment either prevented or ameliorated greatly the cerebrovasospasm and vascular damage induced by ethanol. These results suggest that alcohol-induced cerebral vascular and brain damage by reperfusion injury events triggers lipid peroxidation of vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cell membranes; these pro-oxidant events could play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of alcohol-induced cerebral ischemia and stroke.