Endothelial-cell injury of the basilar artery caused by ethanol infusion in dogs

Author(s): Ide, H., Kabuto, M., Handa, Y., Kubota, T.

Journal/Book: Acta Neurochir. 1996; 138: Sachsenplatz 4-6, PO Box 89, A-1201 Vienna, Austria. Springer-Verlag Wien. 84-89.

Abstract: This study in mongrel dogs was designed to observe the effects of ethanol on both endothelial cells of the basilar artery and brain function. By use of sterile surgical technique, a super-selective catheter was placed in the proximal portion of the basilar artery in the dogs. Five dogs received 3 ml of 25% ethanol and 5 dogs received 3 ml of 50% of ethanol through the catheter over 2 minutes. The remaining 5 dogs received 3 mi of saline as a control. Auditory brain stem response (ABR) was monitored for 2 hours after ethanol infusion, and then perfusion-fixation was performed from the heart with 4% paraformaldehyde. The basilar artery was observed with scanning electron microscopy after routine procedures. The endothelial cells were intact in the control group. The 50% group showed a higher level of injury to the endothelium as well as a higher degree of platelet adhesion and fibrin clot formation compared with the 25% group. The extensive endothelial-cell damage subsequently caused thrombus formation. The ABR disappeared immediately after ethanol infusion in both ethanol groups, and recovered gradually in the 25% group, but did not re-appear during the time course of 2 hours in the 50% group. The ethanol less than 25% in concentration near the endothelium is considered to be safe as a transcatheter embolic agent with the attention to the central toxicity.

Note: Article H Kobayashi, Fukui Med Sch, Dept Neurosurg, Fukui 91011, Japan

Keyword(s): auditory brain stem response; basilar artery; ethanol; endothelial cell damage; AUDITORY BRAIN-STEM; ARTERIOVENOUS-MALFORMATIONS; PREOPERATIVE EMBOLIZATION; VASCULAR MALFORMATIONS; EVOKED-RESPONSES; ALCOHOL

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