Effects of ethanol on brain metabolism

Abstract

The influence of acute or chronic ethanol administration on the biochemical processes in brain and cerebral metabolic pathways has been discussed. Ethanol seems to affect cerebral carbohydrate metabolism mainly through increased glycogenolysis, although the possibility of decreased cerebral glucose utilization remains eminent. Ethanol affects the consumption of oxygen by the brain tissue presumably through alterations in the brain cell membranes. Inhibition of Na+-K+-ATP-ase observed during ethanol intoxication is suspected to result in alterations in the membranes of the nerve cells. Isotope studies in addition to total respiratory carbon dioxide production strongly suggest the inhibition of citric acid cycle function during ethanol metabolism. Although synthetic pathways for lipids do not seem to be affected by ethanol, lipid oxidation in the cerebral tissue is significantly inhibited. In addition to above mentioned alterations in the cerebral metabolic processes, ethanol also affects ionic transport processes, adenine nucleotides, and amino acid and protein metabolism. The metabolic consequences of such effects of ethanol have been discussed.