The effects of hypoglycemic and alcoholic coma on the blood-brain barrier permeability

• Main Authors: Hatice Yorulmaz, Fatma Burcu Seker, Baria Oztas
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Association of Basic Medical Sciences of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina 2011-05-01
• Series: Bosnian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences
• Subjects: blood-brain barrier; hypoglycemic coma; alcoholic coma
• Online Access: http://www.bjbms.org/ojs/index.php/bjbms/article/view/2591

In this investigation, the effects of hypoglycemic coma and alcoholic coma on the blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability have been compared. Female adult Wistar albino rats weighing 180-230 g were divided into three groups: Control group (n=8), Alcoholic Coma Group (n=18), and Hypoglycemic Coma group (n=12). The animals went into coma approximately 3-4 hours after insulin administration and 3-5 minutes after alcohol administration. Evans blue (4mL/kg) was injected intravenously as BBB tracer. It was observed that the alcoholic coma did not significantly increase the BBB permeability in any of the brain regions when compared to control group. Changes in BBB permeability were significantly increased by the hypoglycemic coma in comparison to the control group values (p<0.01). Our findings suggest that hypoglycemic and alcoholic coma have different effects on the BBB permeability depending on the energy metabolism.