title: Is long-term heavy alcohol consumption toxic for brain serotonergic neurons? Relationship between years of excessive alcohol consumption and serotonergic neurotransmission.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Sahlgren University Hospital/Mölndal, SE-431 80 Mölndal, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ulf
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Berggren
authors.forename: Matts
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eriksson
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fahlke
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Balldin
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol; D005277:Fenfluramine; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D012701:Serotonin; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors