Dopamine transporter and D2-receptor density in late-onset alcoholism.
BACKGROUND
Late onset type 1 alcoholism has been suggested to be associated with an underlying dopaminergic defect. Therefore, it is relevant to study both postsynaptic D2-receptor and presynaptic dopamine transporter (DAT) densities among alcoholics.


OBJECTIVE
We investigated DAT densities, along with striatal and extrastriatal dopamine D2-receptor densities, in nine nonviolent late-onset male alcoholics, who had no major mental disorder nor antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), and nine healthy controls.


METHODS
[123I]PE2I and [123I]epidepride were used in SPECT imaging.


RESULTS
DAT occupancy ratios (striatum/cerebellum) were significantly lower among alcoholics than in controls. Extrastriatal D2-receptor occupancy ratios (temporal pole/cerebellum) were not significantly different between the groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Striatal presynaptic DAT densities are decreased among type 1 alcoholics, and this finding is not associated with recent alcohol abuse.
Repo
E
E
Department of Forensic Psychiatry, University of Kuopio, Niuvanniemi Hospital, Finland. eila.repo@niuva.fi
Kuikka
J T
JT
Bergström
K A
KA
Karhu
J
J
Hiltunen
J
J
Tiihonen
J
J
D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D001549:Benzamides; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D003287:Contrast Media; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D008024:Ligands; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D008875:Middle Aged; D017072:Neostriatum / Q000378:metabolism; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009662:Nortropanes; D011759:Pyrrolidines; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D016511:Severe Combined Immunodeficiency; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
D001549:Benzamides; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D003287:Contrast Media; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; C402415:I123-PE2I; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D008024:Ligands; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009662:Nortropanes; D011759:Pyrrolidines; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; C493214:SLC6A3 protein, human; C063525:epidepride