title: Behavioral and neuroendocrine responses to m-chlorophenylpiperazine in subtypes of alcoholics and in healthy comparison subjects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to explore central serotonergic functions in subgroups of alcoholics and in healthy comparison subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  The mixed serotonin (5-HT) agonist/antagonist m-chlorophenylpiperazine (m-CPP) was administered to male alcoholic patients who were classified according to the criteria of von Knorring et al. as type I alcoholics (late onset) (N = 16) or type II alcoholics (early onset with antisocial traits) (N = 24) and to 22 healthy comparison subjects. Psychological, physiological, and neuroendocrine measures were obtained before and after the m-CPP infusion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  m-CPP elicited subtype-related differential effects among the alcoholics; the type I alcoholics reported more anger and anxiety, and the type II alcoholics reported increased euphoria and a greater likelihood of drinking. The healthy comparison subjects exhibited a greater increase in plasma ACTH response to the m-CPP infusion than the alcoholics regardless of subtype.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Differences in certain 5-HT receptor functions may explain some of the clinical characteristics that differentiate the type II and type I subgroups of alcoholic patients. Furthermore, alcoholics may have reduced sensitivity of 5-HT2C receptors in comparison with healthy subjects.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Studies, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD 20892-1250, USA.
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Benkelfat
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Rawlings
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Eckardt
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Nutt
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wynne
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Linnoila
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D000786:Anger / Q000187:drug effects; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D005059:Euphoria / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010879:Piperazines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D010879:Piperazines; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; C015068:1-(3-chlorophenyl)piperazine