title: Serotonin and alcohol: interrelationships.
abstract: Alcoholism is a multifaceted medicosocial problem. Recent literature discusses a common dyad, alcoholism and anxiety. Both disorders are interdigitated with the brain amine serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT). Direct 5-HT activation reportedly attenuates alcohol consumption, whereas depletion enhances use patterns. Acute alcohol consumption has also been associated with a transient rise, albeit eventual diminished 5-HT turnover. A variety of 5-HT models have confirmed this observation, e.g., reduced platelet 5-HT content, uptake, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid. Such altered characteristics of 5-HT secondary to chronic alcohol use may explain the frequent morbidity of anxiety and/or depression. Acute alcohol consumption is also associated with accumulation of the 5-HT aldehyde derivative 5-hydroxymethtryptoline. Thus, alcohol may induce the in vivo formation of aldehydes, e.g., beta-carbolines, that themselves possess high lipophilicity and psychotropic activity. Future investigation into 5-HT-specific pharmacologic probes in alcoholism will be interesting. Preliminary research has consistently demonstrated that 5-HT-enhancing agents (e.g., zimelidine or fluvoxamine) decrease alcohol consumption, preference, and short-term memory decrements. Thus, 5-HT appears to represent at least one common denominator for a spectrum of behavioral disorders including anxiety and alcoholism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, St. Paul-Ramsey Medical Center, Minn.
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Tollefson
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000187:drug effects; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001143:Arousal / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects*; D016666:Fluvoxamine; D006801:Humans; D010091:Oximes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000187:drug effects*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D015031:Zimeldine / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D010091:Oximes; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D012701:Serotonin; D015031:Zimeldine; D016666:Fluvoxamine