Positron emission tomography imaging of the serotonin transporter and 5-HT(1A) receptor in alcohol dependence.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Rodent models as well as studies in humans have suggested alterations in serotonin (5-HT) innervation and transmission in early-onset genetically determined or type II alcoholism. This study examines two indices of serotonergic transmission, 5-HT transporter levels and 5-HT(1A) availability, in vivo, in type II alcoholism. This is the first report of combined tracers for pre- and postsynaptic serotonergic transmission in the same alcoholic subjects and the first study of 5-HT(1A) receptors in alcoholism.

METHODS:

Fourteen alcohol-dependent subjects were scanned (11 with both tracers, 1 with [(11)C]DASB only, and two with [(11)C]WAY100635 only). Twelve healthy control subjects (HC) subjects were scanned with [(11)C]DASB, and another 13 were scanned with [(11)C]WAY100635. Binding potential (BP(p), mL/cm(3)) and the specific to nonspecific partition coefficient (BP(ND), unitless) were derived for both tracers using a two-tissue compartment model and compared with control subjects across different brain regions. Relationships to severity of alcoholism were assessed.

RESULTS:

No significant differences were observed in regional BP(p) or BP(ND) between patients and control subjects in any of the regions examined. No significant relationships were observed between regional 5-HT transporter availability, 5-HT(1A) availability, and disease severity, with the exception of a significant negative correlation between 5-HT transporters and years of dependence in amygdala and insula.

CONCLUSION:

This study did not find alterations in measures of 5-HT(1A) or 5-HT transporter levels in patients with type II alcoholism.

• Authors: Diana Martinez, Mark Slifstein, Roberto Gil, Dah-Ren Hwang, Yiyun Huang, Audrey Perez, W Gordon Frankle, Marc Laruelle, John Krystal, Anissa Abi-Dargham
• Journal: Biological psychiatry (Biol Psychiatry) Vol. 65 Issue 2 Pg. 175-80 (Jan 15 2009) ISSN: 1873-2402 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 18962444 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)

Chemical References

• Carbon Radioisotopes
• Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
• Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A

Topics

• Adult
• Alcoholism (diagnostic imaging, metabolism)
• Brain (diagnostic imaging, metabolism)
• Brain Mapping
• Carbon Radioisotopes
• Case-Control Studies
• Drug Users
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Positron-Emission Tomography
• Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A (metabolism)
• Reference Values
• Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins (metabolism)
• Severity of Illness Index