Stroke is the second largest cause of death in the world and the leading in Brazil, with 87% of strokes due to ischemic processes. Chronic ethanol consumption, usually beginning in adolescence, is recognized as an independent risk factor for increased morbidity and mortality by stroke. Although cases combining the two diseases are relatively common, there is no data in animals or clinical models demonstrating the quality or mechanisms of interaction between the two morbidities, nor its impact on therapeutic intervention. Considering the recent studies proposing minocycline as a new therapeutic tool for the treatment of stroke, this study aimed to investigate the interaction between the Chronic Alcoholic Intoxication (CAI) started in adolescence and the stroke in motor cortex of adult rats, and the effects of treatment with minocycline on this interaction, using behavioral, cellular and molecular parameters. Female Wistar rats (35 days-old) were chronically exposed to ethanol (6.5 g/kg/day, 22.5% w/v) or water for 55 days. One day after the end of the CAI focal ischemia was induced in motor cortex with the endothelin-1 (ET-1), followed by seven-day treatment with minocycline or saline. After this period, the animals were assayed with open field and rota rod tests. Immediately, animals were sacrificed and cortex was dissected for evaluation of nitrite and lipid peroxidation levels. In all groups, some animals were perfused and the motor cortex subjected to histological analysis to assess the damage, and immunohistochemical labeling to neuronal death (anti-NeuN), microglial/macrophage (anti-ED1) and astrocytes (anti-GFAP) activation. The ethanol intoxication from puberty to adulthood potentiated the damage caused by stroke, causing major losses in capacity to start and running movements as well as the strength and motor coordination compared to ischemic animals pretreated with water. These manifestations were accompanied by increased neuronal loss, reduced ED-1+ and GFAP+ cells and higher levels of nitrite and lipid peroxidation. Treatment with minocycline was effective in preventing/reverse motor deficits and tissue damage induced by focal ischemia, also inhibiting the increase in oxidative stress markers. The CAI either alone with succeeded by focal ischemia, harmed the outcome of treatment with minocycline. Our results indicate that heavy alcohol intoxication during adolescence exacerbates the motor deficit and tissue damage in animals subjected to focal ischemia. This process appears to be associated with microglia/astroglial activation, but mainly with oxidative stress. It also shows that the previous history of CAI started adolescence interferes significantly in the treatment of cerebral ischemia with minocycline.
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