title: PET [11C]DASB imaging of serotonin transporters in patients with alcoholism.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Alcoholism and aggression have each been associated with neurochemical measurements suggestive of decreased serotonin synaptic transmission. We measured densities of the serotonin transporter (SERT) in a moderate-sized sample of alcoholic patients who were assessed for aggressive characteristics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty alcoholic inpatients and 18 healthy controls received a PET scan with [(11)C]-3-amino-4-(2-dimethylaminomethylphenylsulfanyl)-benzonitrile. The alcoholic inpatients were classified as aggressive or nonaggressive based on a comparison between the top third and bottom third scores on the Buss-Durkee Hostility Index.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using a pixel-wise comparison, no brain region showed significant alterations in SERT binding among the 3 groups of subjects (aggressive alcoholic subjects, nonaggressive alcoholic subjects, and healthy controls) or between the combined alcoholic group and healthy controls. None of the clinical measures (including measures of aggression) correlated with SERT binding in the alcoholic subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Contrary to prior imaging reports using the nonselective ligand [(123)I]beta-CIT, we found no significant alterations of SERT density in alcoholic patients.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Imaging Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, One Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. amirabrown@mail.nih.gov
authors.forename: Amira K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: David T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujita
authors.forename: Jeih-San
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Liow
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ichise
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hibbeln
authors.forename: Subroto
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghose
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sangare
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hommer
authors.forename: Robert B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Innis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000523:psychology; D000814:Aniline Compounds; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D019579:Neocortex / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D012907:Smoking / Q000378:metabolism; D013440:Sulfides
chemical_list: C412822:3-amino-4-(2-dimethylaminomethylphenylsulfanyl)benzonitrile; D000814:Aniline Compounds; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D013440:Sulfides