Altered hemodynamic counter-regulation to hemorrhage by acute moderate alcohol intoxication

The incidence of traumatic injury, frequently associated with hemorrhagic shock, is higher in the alcohol-intoxicated individual. The outcome, as it pertains to both morbidity and mortality of this population, is partly dependent on duration of alcohol exposure and levels of blood alcohol at time of injury. In previous studies, we demonstrated that prolonged alcohol intoxication (15-h duration) produces marked hemodynamic instability and exacerbated early lung proinflammatory cytokine expression after hemorrhagic shock. The present study examines whether a shorter and more modest period of alcohol intoxication is sufficient to alter hemodynamic and proinflammatory responses to hemorrhagic shock. Chronically instrumented, conscious male Sprague-Dawley rats (250-300 g) received a single intragastric bolus of alcohol (1.75 g/kg) 30 min before the administration of fixed-volume (50%) hemorrhagic shock, followed by fluid resuscitation with Ringer lactate. Time-matched controls were administered on isocaloric dextrose bolus (3 g/kg). Alcohol (blood alcohol concentration, 152 +/- 10 mg/dL) produced a 14% decrease in basal mean arterial blood pressure and a more profound hypotensive response to equal blood loss. The 2-fold rise in circulating norepinephrine levels was similar in alcohol- and dextrose-treated hemorrhaged animals despite greater hypotension in alcohol-treated animals. Significant upregulation in lung and spleen interleukin (IL) 1, IL-6, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor alpha expression was observed immediately after hemorrhage and fluid resuscitation, as previously reported. Only the hemorrhage-induced rise in lung IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha was prevented by alcohol administration. In contrast, spleen cytokine responses to hemorrhage were not altered by alcohol administration. These results indicate that moderate acute alcohol intoxication results in significant modulation of hemodynamic and neuroendocrine responses to hemorrhagic shock.