Robert C. Lowery

The effects of ethanol on brain blood flow in awake dogs.

Ethanol produces a generalized decline in brain flow in awake dogs. The reduction in flow is most marked and persistent in the cerebellum. In the anesthetized animal with brain blood flow already depressed, this effect is obscured. The possible relationship of these findings to the acute and chronic effects of ethanol on the central nervous system in humans is discussed.

The Effects of Ethanol on Pancreatic Blood Flow in Awake and Anesthetized Dogs

Abstract The pathophysiology of alcohol-induced acute pancreatitis is not clear. Ischemic injury has been suggested as a possible mechanism. To examine the effects of ethanol on pancreatic and splanchnic blood flow, measurements were made in fasted, conditioned awake dogs before and after iv infusion of ethanol (1.7 g/kg). At 30 min blood ethanol concentration ranged between 60 and 150 mg/dl and at 60 min between 166 and 350 mg/dl. Although cardiac output, aortic pressure, left atrial pressure, and arterial pH did not change, pancreatic flow declined by 39 ± 12 ml/min/100 g, P < 0.05 (from 173 ± 10 ml/min/100 g) at 30 min and was still depressed (by 27 ± 12 ml/min/100 g, P< 0.05) at 60 min. Concomitantly, hepatic arterial flow increased. While hepatic and pancreatic flow changed inversely, the correlation (r = −0.17) of these changes was not significant. At comparable blood ethanol concentrations in pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs hepatic arterial flow increased by 11 ± 3 ml/min/100 g, P < 0.01 (from 24 ± 5 ml/min/100 g), but pancreatic flow did not change. Thus, in the awake dog at blood levels that would produce mild to moderate alcoholic intoxication in man, ethanol reduces pancreatic flow. Although hepatic flow increases concomitantly, the relationship of these changes appears to be independent.