title: Reduced central serotonin transporters in alcoholism.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Brain Disorders Branch, NIMH, Washington, D.C., USA. jonesjeinz@aol.com
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heinz
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ragan
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hommer
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Knable
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Gorey
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Doty
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Geyer
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Coppola
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Weinberger
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Linnoila
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: 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