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4.0 T Water Proton T 1 Relaxation Times in Normal Human Brain and During Acute Ethanol Intoxication
Author(s) -
Rooney William D.,
Lee JingHuei,
Li Xin,
Wang GeneJack,
Franceschi Dinko,
Springer Charles S.,
Volkow Nora D.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
alcoholism: clinical and experimental research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.267
H-Index - 153
eISSN - 1530-0277
pISSN - 0145-6008
DOI - 10.1111/j.1530-0277.2000.tb02062.x
Subject(s) - dehydration , proton magnetic resonance , proton , macromolecule , white matter , ethanol , nuclear magnetic resonance , chemistry , magnetic resonance imaging , relaxation (psychology) , water intoxication , alcohol intoxication , alcohol , t2 relaxation , human brain , free water , brain tissue , endocrinology , medicine , neuroscience , biochemistry , psychology , radiology , poison control , physics , environmental health , quantum mechanics , injury prevention , hyponatremia , environmental engineering , engineering
Background: It has been reported that acute ethanol intoxication decreases the brain water proton magnetic resonance T 1 values, an effect that has been interpreted to indicate brain dehydration during this condition. Because water macromolecular interactions largely determine tissue water T 1 , another possible explanation for reduced brain water proton T 1 values is that the interaction between water and brain macromolecules is altered by ethanol. Methods: A 4.0 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) instrument was used to measure brain water proton T 1 relaxation times before, during, and after ethanol intoxication (dose, 0.75 mg/kg) in healthy controls. Results: The T 1 relaxation times as assessed with MRI were highly reproducible. The mean, paired ethanol‐induced differences in T 1 were −0.004 ± 0.007 sec (mean ± standard deviation) for white matter and 0.010 ± 0.015 sec for internal gray matter structures, neither of which was significant. Conclusions: This reasonably sensitive measurement does not support the view that tissue water content or water macromolecule interactions are significantly altered in the brain during acute alcohol intoxication in otherwise healthy subjects.