PET-determination of benzodiazepine receptor binding in studies on alcoholism.
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and the radioligand [11C]flumazenil were used to examine benzodiazepine (BZ) receptor binding in the human brain. In a first study of healthy males acute ingestion of alcohol did not alter total radioactivity uptake or specific [11C]flumazenil binding in the neocortex or cerebellum. In a second study [11C]flumazenil binding was determined in 5 healthy male controls and 5 chronic alcohol dependent men using a saturation procedure with two PET experiments. Mean values for BZ-receptor density and affinity were similar in the two groups but the Bmax variance for the alcohol dependents was significantly larger (p < 0.05) for all regions. The present studies do not support the view that alcohol affects central BZ receptor binding in man.
Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
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L
Farde
S
S
Pauli
J E
JE
Litton
C
C
Halldin
J
J
Neiman
G
G
Sedvall
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D005442:Flumazenil / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D012016:Reference Values; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed / Q000379:methods*
D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D005442:Flumazenil