What is it about?

After having previously tested the action of the carotenoid antioxidant astaxanthin against the action of ethanol on the excitability-dependent phenomenon known as cortical spreading depression, in this study we tested the effect of the non-carotenoid alpha-tocopherol.

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Why is it important?

The major result from this study is that a-tocopherol, a noncarotenoid antioxidant, counteracted the effect of EtOH on CSD propagation in young adult (60 to 80 days old) and mature adult (150 to 180 days old) rats. Acute EtOH treatment decelerated CSD while chronic EtOH administration accelerated it, suggesting that different mechanisms are at play in these conditions.

Perspectives

Our novel electrophysiological data on the neuroprotective potential of a-tocopherol against EtOH are consistent with prior evidence from several studies. Clinical and experimental results collectively demonstrate that antioxidants counteract the deleterious effects of ROS (reactive oxigen species) in several neurological diseases. Several antioxidants, including a-tocopherol, protect neural cells in vivo and in vitro from injuries such as those caused by ischemia, brain trauma, and various molecules including EtOH .

Professor Rubem C. A. Guedes
Universidade Federal de Pernambuco

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This page is a summary of: Alpha-Tocopherol Counteracts the Effect of Ethanol on Cortical Spreading Depression in Rats of Various Ages, With and Without Ethanol Abstinence, Alcoholism Clinical and Experimental Research, March 2016, Wiley,
DOI: 10.1111/acer.12998.
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