title: 3H-paroxetine binding in brains of alcoholics.
abstract: High affinity 3H-paroxetine binding was studied in human frontal cortex and hippocampus obtained from normal controls and alcoholics. On the basis of Scatchard analyses, a significant decrease in the maximal number of binding sites (Bmax) was found in the hippocampus of alcoholics (n = 8) as compared with that of controls (n = 10) (mean +/- SD = 63 +/- 35 vs. 114 +/- 70 fmoles/mg protein). There was no significant difference in the dissociation constants (Kd) between the two groups. The presumed effect of chronic alcohol abuse on 3H-paroxetine binding may be region-specific since no significant difference in either Bmax or Kd for 3H-paroxetine binding was found in the frontal cortex between normal controls and alcoholics. No significant correlation of 3H-paroxetine binding with age or postmortem interval was observed. The decrease in 3H-paroxetine binding in the hippocampus of alcoholics is probably indicative of reduced density of serotonergic nerve terminals either as a preexisting condition or as a result of neuronal damage caused by ethanol or the sequelae of alcoholism, such as nutritional deficiencies.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Studies, DICBR, National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), Bethesda, MD.
authors.forename: H T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Casanova
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Kleinman
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zito
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Goldman
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Linnoila
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000473:pathology*; D001665:Binding Sites / Q000502:physiology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000473:pathology*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017374:Paroxetine; D010880:Piperidines / Q000378:metabolism*; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D010880:Piperidines; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D017374:Paroxetine