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Dopamine D2/D3-receptor and transporter densities in nucleus accumbens and amygdala of type 1 and 2 alcoholics

Abstract

Alcohol acts through mechanisms involving the brain neurotransmitter dopamine (DA) with the nucleus accumbens as the key zone for mediating these effects. We evaluated the densities of DA D2/D3 receptors and transporters in the nucleus accumbens and amygdala of post-mortem human brains by using [125l]epidepride and [125I]PE2I as radioligands in whole hemispheric autoradiography of Cloninger type 1 and 2 alcoholics and healthy controls. When compared with controls, the mean binding of [125I]epidepride to DA D2/D3 receptors was 20% lower in the nucleus accumbens and 41% lower in the amygdala, and [125I]PE2I binding to DA transporters in the nucleus accumbens was 39% lower in type 1 alcoholics. These data indicate that dopaminergic functions in these limbic areas may be impaired among type 1 alcoholics, due to the substantially lower number of receptor sites. Our results suggest that such a reduction may result in the chronic overuse of alcohol as an attempt to stimulate DA function.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Pirjo Halonen, MSc for her excellent assistance with the statistical analyses, Professor Jouko Vepsäläinen for providing the β-CIT used in the displacement studies and Kari Karkola, MD, PhD for providing two brains for the study. Radiolabelling of [125I]PE2I was performed under the EUREKA Dopimag-program and was financially supported by TEKES. This study was supported by the Finnish Cultural Foundation of Northern Savo and the Swedish Medical Research council (11640).

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Tupala, E., Hall, H., Bergström, K. et al. Dopamine D2/D3-receptor and transporter densities in nucleus accumbens and amygdala of type 1 and 2 alcoholics. Mol Psychiatry 6, 261–267 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.mp.4000859

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