ABSTINENT ALCOHOLICS EXHIBIT AN EXAGGERATED STRESS-RESPONSE TO 2-DEOXY-D-GLUCOSE CHALLENGE

Chronic excessive alcohol consumption can significantly disturb the hy pothalamic control of glucose metabolism; however, the mechanism and c linical significance of this disturbance are poorly understood. We use d 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG), which produces intracellular glucoprivatio n, to compare neurochemical, physiological, and behavioral responses t o glucoprivic stress between alcoholics abstinent for 3 weeks and heal thy volunteers. Twenty-six male alcoholics and 15 male healthy volunte ers received intravenous infusions of placebo, 12.5 mg/kg, and 25.0 mg /kg of body weight of 2-DG over 30 min on three separate days, followi ng a random-ordered, double-blind procedure. Minimal effects were obse rved following administration of the 12.5 mg/kg of body weight dose of 2-DG. Following 25.0 mg/kg, alcoholics showed both exaggerated ACTH a nd cortisol responses and greater increases in caloric intake when com pared with controls. Although anxiety, desire to consume alcohol, plas ma progesterone, and sympathetic and adrenal medullary activity all in creased following 2-DG, these responses did not differ between alcohol ics and controls. The present findings suggest certain specificity for the exaggerated hypothalamic and adrenocortical responses to mild glu coprivic stress in 3-week-abstinent alcoholics.