title: Serum NPY and BNDF response to a behavioral stressor in alcohol-dependent and healthy control participants.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Neuropeptide Y (NPY) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) have been implicated in both the stress response and alcohol addiction. However, few studies have assessed the NPY and BDNF response to stress in alcohol-dependent participants and the concurrent measure of NPY and BDNF has not been reported in human participants.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to concurrently assess serum NPY and BDNF, as well as adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) and cortisol, in control and race- and aged-matched abstinent alcohol-dependent participants in response to a stress-inducing public-speaking task.
  
  
  METHODS
  Basal and post-stress serum values of NPY and BDNF, as well as ACTH and cortisol, were assessed in 14 abstinent alcohol-dependent and ten healthy control male participants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Basal measures were stable over short periods of time and stress induced a significant increase in both NPY (p = 0.002) and BDNF (p = 0.006) as well as ACTH (p < 0.001) and cortisol (p < 0.007). Alcohol-dependent and control groups did not significantly differ on any basal or stress-induced measure. Basal and delta responses of NPY and BDNF were not significantly correlated, and delta peak responses of NPY and BDNF did not correlate with one another or with their respective ACTH and cortisol responses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings reveal that both serum NPY and BDNF are responsive to behavioral stressors, although their regulatory mechanisms appear to differ from one another and those of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Differences in basal and stress-induced responses of NPY and BDNF were not supported between control and abstinent alcohol-dependent subjects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390-8564, USA.
authors.forename: Donna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: Tingchin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Uma
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: Carol S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: North
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Martin A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Javors
authors.forename: Bryon
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Adinoff
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000523:psychology*; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D013060:Speech; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000097:blood / Q000523:psychology*; D013695:Temperance
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone