Mu-opioid receptor binding measured by [11C]carfentanil positron emission tomography is related to craving and mood in alcohol dependence.
BACKGROUND
The endogenous opioid system has been linked to alcohol dependence through animal and human studies. We investigated the relationship between alcohol craving and brain mu opioid receptors (mu-OR) in alcohol-dependent subjects.


METHODS
Regional brain mu-OR binding potential (BP) was measured using [(11)C]carfentanil positron emission tomography in eight male alcohol-dependent subjects undergoing alcohol withdrawal and eight matched control subjects. Self-reported alcohol craving, withdrawal, and mood were measured.


RESULTS
Lower mu-OR BP was associated with higher craving in the right dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex, the right anterior frontal cortex, and right parietal cortex. In these regions, alcoholics showed lower mean mu-OR BP compared with control subjects. Mu-OR BP in four other brain regions also correlated with craving, but there were no group differences in receptor binding potential. Mu-OR BP also correlated with depressive symptoms in five brain regions, three of which were identified in the craving analyses.


CONCLUSIONS
Results show a strong functional relationship between alcohol craving, mood, and mu-OR binding in specific brain regions of recently abstinent, alcohol-dependent men.
Bencherif
Badreddine
B
Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 601 N. Caroline Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
Wand
Gary S
GS
McCaul
Mary E
ME
Kim
Yu Kyeong
YK
Ilgin
Nese
N
Dannals
Robert F
RF
Frost
James J
JJ
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000523:psychology; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005283:Fentanyl / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000378:metabolism; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000378:metabolism; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu / Q000378:metabolism*; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu; C017114:carfentanil; D005283:Fentanyl