Dopamine D(2)/D(3)-receptor and transporter densities in nucleus accumbens and amygdala of type 1 and 2 alcoholics.
Alcohol acts through mechanisms involving the brain neurotransmitter dopamine (DA) with the nucleus accumbens as the key zone for mediating these effects. We evaluated the densities of DA D(2)/D(3) receptors and transporters in the nucleus accumbens and amygdala of post-mortem human brains by using [(125)l]epidepride and [(125)I]PE2I as radioligands in whole hemispheric autoradiography of Cloninger type 1 and 2 alcoholics and healthy controls. When compared with controls, the mean binding of [(125)I]epidepride to DA D(2)/D(3) receptors was 20% lower in the nucleus accumbens and 41% lower in the amygdala, and [(125)I]PE2I binding to DA transporters in the nucleus accumbens was 39% lower in type 1 alcoholics. These data indicate that dopaminergic functions in these limbic areas may be impaired among type 1 alcoholics, due to the substantially lower number of receptor sites. Our results suggest that such a reduction may result in the chronic overuse of alcohol as an attempt to stimulate DA function.
Tupala
E
E
Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Niuvanniemi Hospital, University of Kuopio, FIN-70240 Kuopio, Finland. erkki.tupala@niuva.fi
Hall
H
H
Bergström
K
K
Särkioja
T
T
Räsänen
P
P
Mantere
T
T
Callaway
J
J
Hiltunen
J
J
Tiihonen
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D000679:Amygdala / Q000737:chemistry*; D001549:Benzamides; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D003287:Contrast Media; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009662:Nortropanes; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000737:chemistry*; D011759:Pyrrolidines; D011869:Radioligand Assay; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000032:analysis*; D050637:Receptors, Dopamine D3
D001549:Benzamides; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D003287:Contrast Media; C493593:DRD3 protein, human; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; C113010:N-(3-iodoprop-2-enyl)-2-beta-carbomethoxy-3-(4-methylphenyl)nortropane; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009662:Nortropanes; D011759:Pyrrolidines; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; D050637:Receptors, Dopamine D3; C063525:epidepride; D004298:Dopamine