Auditory brain stem potentials in chronic alcohol intoxication and alcohol withdrawal
N. S. Chu, K. C. Squires and A. Starr
Auditory brain stem evoked responses were in unrestrained rats during
periods of acute and chronic alcohol intoxication, alcohol withdrawal, and
recovery. Acute alcohol administration altered the auditory brain stem
potentials by a prolongation of both peak latency and central conduction
time, beginning with early peaks. Similar but lesser effects affecting only
the latter peaks were observed during chronic alcohol intoxication. By
contrast, alcohol withdrawal resulted in a decrease in the peak latencies
of auditory brain stem potentials and a facilitation of central conduction
time. Recovery of the auditory brain stem potentials to the normal form
required at least three to four weeks. The present study provides the first
quantitative data, to our knowledge, on manifestations of alcohol tolerance
and withdrawal.
