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. 2019 Dec 1:205:107627.
doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2019.107627. Epub 2019 Oct 17.

Binge alcohol use is not associated with alterations in striatal dopamine receptor binding or dopamine release

Jonathan M Wai  1 , Alexander Grassetti  2 , Mark Slifstein  2 , David Matuskey  3 , Nabeel Nabulsi  3 , Jim Ropchan  3 , David Labaree  3 , Yiyun Huang  3 , Diana Martinez  2
Affiliations

Binge alcohol use is not associated with alterations in striatal dopamine receptor binding or dopamine release

Jonathan M Wai et al. Drug Alcohol Depend. .

Abstract

Background: Previous imaging studies using Positron Emission Tomography (PET) have shown that alcohol use disorder (AUD) is associated with a decrease in dopamine type 2/3 receptor (D2/3) binding and dopamine transmission. Although binge drinking is a risk factor for future AUD, little is known about the neurobiology of binge drinking in young adults. This study measured D2/3 receptor binding and stimulant-induced dopamine release using PET and [11C]raclopride in binge drinkers without an AUD.

Methods: This study included 14 healthy controls (HC) and 14 young adult binge drinkers (BD), aged 18-25. The BD met National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) criteria for binge drinking and the HC subjects were social drinkers. The subjects were scanned with [11C]raclopride before and after the administration of oral methylphenidate (60 mg) to measure D2/3 binding and dopamine release.

Results: There was no significant difference in the PET measures of D2/3 binding or methylphenidate-induced dopamine release between the two groups. There was no significant association between Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) scores or 30-day drinking history and the imaging data.

Conclusion: In this sample of 18-25-year-old binge drinkers without a diagnosis of a substance use disorder, there were no significant differences in D2/3 receptor binding potential or methylphenidate-induced dopamine release relative to healthy controls.

Keywords: Alcohol; Binge drinking; Dopamine; Imaging; PET; Raclopride.

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Declaration of Competing Interest

None.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.. Representative PET scans from binge drinking participants and healthy controls.
The scan on the left is at baseline, while the scan on the right is after the oral methylphenidate 60 mg challenge. Post-challenge, synaptic dopamine is increased so that there are fewer available D2/3 receptors to bind to [11C]raclopride. Groups did not differ in their baseline scans, or in percent difference after the methylphenidate challenge. The color bar shows values for BPND. Abbreviations: MP = methylphenidate.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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