Quantitative microdialysis of ethanol in rat striatum.

We have applied a steady-state theory of microdialysis to characterize the diffusion of ethanol through a microdialysis membrane and through rat striatum. Quantitative characterization required measurement of in vitro and in vivo extraction fractions for ethanol and determination of the clearance of ethanol from brain tissue during steady-state perfusion through a microdialysis probe. Extraction fraction of ethanol was determined in vitro by perfusing a known concentration of ethanol through probes immersed in water at 37 degrees C with stirring. The in vitro extraction fraction yielded a probe permeability value of 0.046 +/- 0.004 cm/min that is comparable with an estimate from published measurements for similar dialysis membranes. The in vivo extraction fraction was determined for probes placed in the striatum. Clearance of ethanol and a brain slice concentration profile of ethanol were determined by measurement of the amount of ethanol remaining in the brain tissue during steady-state perfusion of the probe. Steady state was achieved within 10 min after beginning the ethanol perfusion in vivo, and the extraction fraction was not altered by sedation of the rat with pentobarbital. The tissue concentration profile was symmetrical around the probe track, and ethanol was detected 1 mm from the probe. The experimental clearance rate constant value obtained for ethanol (2.0 +/- 0.3 min(-1)) was higher than that expected for removal solely by loss to the blood. The tissue diffusivity for ethanol, Dt, derived from the experimental measurements was 1.2 +/- 0.2 x 10(-5) cm2/sec. This value is greater than expected for interstitial diffusion, suggesting a substantial contribution by transcellular diffusion of ethanol as well. The predicted tissue concentration profile had a higher peak value and did not extend into the tissue (0.5 mm) as much as the experimental profile (1 mm), although there was reasonable agreement between experiment and theory. Our quantitative characterization of the microdialysis behavior of ethanol in brain provides a framework for interpretation of brain microdialysis experiments using ethanol by supplying, inter alia, a means for estimating the ethanol concentration achieved in the tissue volume being sampled by the probe.