title: Alterations of benzodiazepine receptors in type II alcoholic subjects measured with SPECT and [123I]iomazenil.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Alterations in cortical benzodiazepine receptor density have been described in postmortem and in vivo studies of alcoholic subjects. The authors attempted to replicate these findings using single photon emission computed tomography and the benzodiazepine receptor radiotracer [123I]iomazenil.
  
  
  METHODS
  They measured the distribution volume of benzodiazepine receptors in 11 recently detoxified patients with type II alcoholism and 11 healthy comparison subjects. The tracer was given as a bolus followed by a continuous infusion to achieve sustained binding equilibrium at the benzodiazepine receptors. Data were analyzed by using a region of interest method (regions of interest were identified on coregistered magnetic resonance imaging scans) and by a pixel-by-pixel method (distribution volume maps were analyzed with statistical parametric mapping for between-group differences).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The region of interest analysis revealed that alcoholic patients had significantly lower benzodiazepine distribution volume than comparison subjects in the frontal, anterior cingulate, and cerebellar cortices. Statistical parametric mapping revealed two large excursions in which the distribution volume in alcoholic patients was significantly lower than in comparison subjects: the anterior cingulate, extending into the right middle frontal gyrus, and the left occipital cortex.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Benzodiazepine receptor distribution volume is significantly lower in several cortical regions and the cerebellum in alcoholic subjects than in healthy comparison subjects. These results are consistent with previous reports and might indicate either a toxic effect of alcoholism on benzodiazepine receptors or a vulnerability factor for developing alcoholism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Conn., USA. aadar@neuron.cpmc.columbia.edu
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abi-Dargham
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Krystal
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Anjilvel
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Scanley
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zoghbi
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Baldwin
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rajeevan
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.forename: I L
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Petrakis
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Seibyl
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Charney
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Laruelle
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Innis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005442:Flumazenil / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
chemical_list: D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D005442:Flumazenil; C063038:iomazenil