EVIDENCE FOR REDUCED DOPAMINE D2 RECEPTOR SENSITIVITY IN POSTWITHDRAWAL ALCOHOLICS

Citation
Ck. Farren et al., EVIDENCE FOR REDUCED DOPAMINE D2 RECEPTOR SENSITIVITY IN POSTWITHDRAWAL ALCOHOLICS, Alcoholism, clinical and experimental research, 19(6), 1995, pp. 1520-1524
Citations number
28
Categorie Soggetti
Substance Abuse
ISSN journal
01456008
Volume
19
Issue
6
Year of publication
1995
Pages
1520 - 1524
Database
ISI
SICI code
0145-6008(1995)19:6<1520:EFRDDR>2.0.ZU;2-P
Abstract
Dopamine D2 receptor sensitivity was assessed in the post-withdrawal p eriod in alcoholics. Growth hormone (GH) responses to dopamine D2 agon ist bromocriptine were measured in eight DSM-III-R alcohol-dependent s ubjects who were 2 weeks or more postalcohol withdrawal. Their respons es were compared with eight nonalcoholic controls. After an overnight fast, each subject received 1.25 mg of bromocriptine orally, and seria l samples of GH were taken over a 3-hr period. There was a significant ly blunted delta GH response (mean +/- SE) in the alcoholic group, 2.3 mU/liter (+/- 1.4) relative to controls, 7.7 mU/liter(+/- 1.2) (t = 2 .96, df = 14, p = 0.01), There was a significantly blunted peak GH res ponse (mean +/- SE) in the alcoholic group, 5.36 mU/liter (+/- 2.1) re lative to controls, 9.04 mU/liter (+/- 5.0). This difference also reac hed statistical significance (t = 2.32, df = 14, p = 0.035). A repeate d-measures ANOVA yielded a significant within-subjects effect of time [F(4,54) = 4.08, p = 0.0057], a significant with-in-subjects effect of group [F(1,14) = 5.6, p = 0.0329], and an almost significant group x time interaction [F(4,54) = 2.45, p = 0.056]. This result implies a re lative dopamine D2 receptor subsensitivity in alcoholics in the postwi thdrawal period.