Abstract
A large body of animal studies indicates that reinforcement from alcohol is
associated with dopaminergic neurotransmission in the mesocorticolimbic pathway.
However, as most psychiatric phenomena cannot be studied with animals, human
studies are needed. Furthermore, because of the fluctuating nature of phenomena
regarding the status of abuse and withdrawal, repeated observations of the same
study subjects under different situations can elucidate a variety of
pathophysiological mechanisms.
In this study 42 alcoholics were monitored during withdrawal and 30
alcoholics after four weeks of abstinence.
123I-β-CIT
SPET was used as a method for the semi quantification of their striatal dopamine
transporter (DAT) densities reflecting the function and structure of the
dopaminergic system.
DAT density was markedly lower during withdrawal among alcoholics as
compared to control subjects, but it elevated during abstinence to the level of
healthy volunteers. This increases in DAT density during withdrawal and
afterwards correlated with the depression scores of alcoholics. DAT density
correlated with the Novelty Seeking (NS) personality trait, especially among
abstinent alcoholics. After four weeks of controlled abstinence alcoholics with
an A1 allele of dopamine receptor D2 were found to have higher DAT densities than
alcoholics without it.
The results indicate that striatal DAT density is associated with mood,
personality, A1 genotype and the length of the abstinence period after heavy
alcohol drinking.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:oulo.fi/oai:oulu.fi:isbn951-42-6527-0 |
| Date | 16 October 2001 |
| Creators | Laine, P. (Pekka) |
| Publisher | University of Oulu |
| Source Sets | University of Oulu |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | info:eu-repo/semantics/doctoralThesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess, © University of Oulu, 2001 |
| Relation | info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/0355-3221, info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1796-2234 |
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