Reduced central serotonin transporters in alcoholism.
OBJECTIVE
Dysfunction of monoamine uptake mechanisms has been implicated in the pathogenesis of alcohol dependence. The authors explored whether serotonergic dysfunction is associated with anxiety and depression, which increase the risk of relapse in alcoholics.


METHODS
The availability of serotonin and dopamine transporters in 22 male alcoholics and 13 healthy male volunteers was measured with the use of [123I] beta-CIT and single photon emission computed tomography, and psychopathological correlates were assessed.


RESULTS
A significant reduction (a mean of about 30%) in the availability of brainstem serotonin transporters was found in the alcoholics, which was significantly correlated with lifetime alcohol consumption and with ratings of depression and anxiety during withdrawal.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings support the hypothesis of serotonergic dysfunction in alcoholism and in withdrawal-emergent depressive symptoms.
Heinz
A
A
Clinical Brain Disorders Branch, NIMH, Washington, D.C., USA. jonesjeinz@aol.com
Ragan
P
P
Jones
D W
DW
Hommer
D
D
Williams
W
W
Knable
M B
MB
Gorey
J G
JG
Doty
L
L
Geyer
C
C
Lee
K S
KS
Coppola
R
R
Weinberger
D R
DR
Linnoila
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000737:chemistry / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D003042:Cocaine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D008875:Middle Aged; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012701:Serotonin / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C493230:SLC6A4 protein, human; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D012701:Serotonin; D000431:Ethanol; C069723:2beta-carbomethoxy-3beta-(4-iodophenyl)tropane; D003042:Cocaine; D004298:Dopamine