Is long-term heavy alcohol consumption toxic for brain serotonergic neurons? Relationship between years of excessive alcohol consumption and serotonergic neurotransmission.
The relationship between years of excessive alcohol consumption and central serotonergic neurotransmission, as assessed by the prolactin (PRL) response to D-fenfluramine, was investigated in 22 male alcohol-dependent subjects. A negative correlation was obtained, that is, the longer duration of excessive alcohol consumption the lower PRL response to D-fenfluramine. It is therefore suggested that long duration of excessive alcohol consumption in alcohol-dependent subjects causes a reduction in central serotonergic neurotransmission, possibly by a toxic effect of alcohol on serotonin neurons. The relationship between depressive and anxiety symptoms during on-going drinking and the PRL response to D-fenfluramine was also investigated. No such correlations were obtained, suggesting that reduction in central serotonergic neurotransmission does not pre-dispose to the development of depressive and anxiety symptoms, at least in relation to on-going drinking in alcohol-dependent subjects.
Berggren
Ulf
U
Institute of Clinical Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Sahlgren University Hospital/Mölndal, SE-431 80 Mölndal, Sweden.
Eriksson
Matts
M
Fahlke
Claudia
C
Balldin
Jan
J
D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005277:Fenfluramine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D012701:Serotonin; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects*; D013997:Time Factors
D000431:Ethanol; D005277:Fenfluramine; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D012701:Serotonin; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors