Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Dopamine transporter and D2-receptor density in late-onset alcoholism

  • Original Investigation
  • Published:
Psychopharmacology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract 

Rationale: Late onset type 1 alcoholism has been suggested to be associated with an underlying dopaminergic defect. Therefore, it is relevant to study both postsynaptic D2-receptor and presynaptic dopamine transporter (DAT) densities among alcoholics. Objective: We investigated DAT densities, along with striatal and extrastriatal dopamine D2-receptor densities, in nine non-violent late-onset male alcoholics, who had no major mental disorder nor antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), and nine healthy controls. Methods: [123I]PE2I and [123I]epidepride were used in SPECT imaging. Results: DAT occupancy ratios (striatum/cerebellum) were significantly lower among alcoholics than in controls. Extrastriatal D2-receptor occupancy ratios (temporal pole/cerebellum) were not significantly different between the groups. Conclusions: Striatal presynaptic DAT densities are decreased among type 1 alcoholics, and this finding is not associated with recent alcohol abuse.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Received: 22 March 1999 / Final version: 25 June 1999

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Repo, E., Kuikka, J., Bergström, K. et al. Dopamine transporter and D2-receptor density in late-onset alcoholism. Psychopharmacology 147, 314–318 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002130051173

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002130051173

Navigation