The effects of temperature and acute alcohol intoxication on brain stem auditory evoked potentials in the cat

The effects of core temperature changes (less than 1°C) and acute ethanol intoxication (100-400 mg%) on brain stem auditory evoked potentials in cats were studied independently - then together - to distinguish between a putative direct pharmacological action of ethanol on brain stem auditory neurons, as reflected in reported BAEP latency changes, and an indirect action of ethanol mediated through slight changes in central temperatures. The results suggest that the reported BAEP latency effects are attributable, largely if not entirely, to the second mechanism above. No significant temperature-independent BAEP latency alterations occurred at any sublethal blood ethanol concentration or in one dosage that subsequently proved fatal. These findings do not exclude a direct ethanol effect on brain stem auditory neurons but provide no evidence for a temperature-independent effect. Knowledge of secondary BAEP temperature effects associated with drug administration is crucial to proper interpretation of BAEPs in both experimental and clinical applications.