title: Reduced levels of GABA-benzodiazepine receptor in alcohol dependency in the absence of grey matter atrophy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We tested the hypothesis that reduced levels of the GABA-benzodiazepine receptor occur in alcohol dependency using single photon emission tomography (SPET) and the specific GABA-benzodiazepine ligand, 123I-iomazenil.
  
  
  METHODS
  Neurologically and cognitively unimpaired abstinent alcohol-dependent (n = 12) and non-alcohol-dependent male subject (n = 14) underwent a 123I-iomazenil SPET scan. SPET and magnetic resonance images were co-registered and voxel-based statistical tests performed. Subjects' clinical and alcohol history were obtained with standard questionnaires. The relationships between clinical and alcohol variables and the regional level of GABA-benzodiazepine receptors were investigated using multiple regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Abstinent alcohol-dependent subjects had decreased levels of GABA-benzodiazepine receptor compared with non-alcohol-dependent subjects within the frontal, parietal and temporal cortices, including regions in which grey matter atrophy was absent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Alcohol dependency is associated with reduced GABA-benzodiazepine receptor levels in the absence of grey matter atrophy in some cortical regions, such as within the parietal lobe. Regional variability of reduction in GABA-benzodiazepine receptors demonstrates that alcohol does not have a global, toxic effect on the brain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, London. sphaarl@iop.bpmf.ac.uk
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Lingford-Hughes
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Acton
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gacinovic
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Suckling
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Busatto
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Boddington
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bullmore
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Woodruff
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Pilowsky
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Ell
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Kerwin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D001284:Atrophy; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000378:metabolism*; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D011963:Receptors, GABA-A