Is long-term heavy alcohol consumption toxic for brain serotonergic neurons? Relationship between years of excessive alcohol consumption and serotonergic neurotransmission.

• The relationship between years of excessive alcohol consumption and central serotonergic neurotransmission, as assessed by the prolactin (PRL) response to D-fenfluramine, was investigated in 22 male alcohol-dependent subjects. A negative correlation was obtained, that is, the longer duration of excessive alcohol consumption the lower PRL response to D-fenfluramine. It is therefore suggested that long duration of excessive alcohol consumption in alcohol-dependent subjects causes a reduction in central serotonergic neurotransmission, possibly by a toxic effect of alcohol on serotonin neurons. The relationship between depressive and anxiety symptoms during on-going drinking and the PRL response to D-fenfluramine was also investigated. No such correlations were obtained, suggesting that reduction in central serotonergic neurotransmission does not pre-dispose to the development of depressive and anxiety symptoms, at least in relation to on-going drinking in alcohol-dependent subjects.

Ämnesord

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Psykologi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Psychology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Alcoholism

diagnosis

metabolism

Brain

drug effects

metabolism

Ethanol

adverse effects

pharmacokinetics

Fenfluramine

pharmacokinetics

Humans

Male

Middle Aged

Receptors

Serotonin

drug effects

metabolism

Serotonin

Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors

pharmacokinetics

Severity of Illness Index

Synaptic Transmission

drug effects

Time Factors

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)