title: Role of the serotonergic system in alcohol dependence: from animal models to clinics.
abstract: Alcohol dependence remains among the most common substance abuse problems worldwide, and compulsive alcohol consumption is a significant public health concern. Alcohol is an addictive drug that alters brain function through interactions with multiple neurotransmitter systems. These neurotransmitter systems mediate the reinforcing effects of alcohol. Specifically, the serotonergic system is important in mediating alcohol reward, preference, dependence, and craving. In this review chapter, we first discuss the serotonin system as it relates to alcoholism, and then outline interactions between this system and other neurotransmitter systems. We emphasize the serotonin transporter and its possible role in alcoholism, then present several serotonergic receptors and discuss their contribution to alcoholism, and finally assess the serotonin system as a target for pharmacotherapy, with an emphasis on current and potential treatments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Health Science Campus, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: Youssef
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sari
authors.forename: Verity R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Jason M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Weedman
mesh_terms: D000437:Alcoholism / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical
chemical_list: D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D012701:Serotonin