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Reduced [ 11 C]flumazenil radioligand binding in the thalamus in alcoholics
Author(s) -
Neiman Jack,
Litton JanEric
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
addiction biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.445
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1369-1600
pISSN - 1355-6215
DOI - 10.1080/13556210071324
Subject(s) - radioligand , flumazenil , thalamus , positron emission tomography , antagonist , neuroscience , radioligand assay , medicine , endocrinology , psychology , pharmacology , receptor
Abstract Positron emission tomography (PET) provides in vivo quantitative measurement of radioligand binding to central neuroreceptors. In this report we present the history and PET findings of the thalamic region in two patients with diagnosis of alcohol dependence using the radioligand [ 11 C]flumazenil (Ro 15–1788), a benzodiazepine receptor antagonist. This abnormality in the thalamus may reflect an early alcohol‐induced brain lesion or contribute to the development of alcoholism in some subjects.