TY - JOUR
T1 - Neuroendocrine and behavioral responses to dopaminergic agonists in adolescents with alcohol abuse
AU - Upadhyaya, Himanshu P.
AU - Brady, Kathleen T.
AU - Liao, Jason
AU - Sethuraman, Gopalan
AU - Middaugh, Larry
AU - Wharton, Mollie
AU - Sallee, Floyd R.
N1 - Funding Information:
Acknowledgements This study was supported in part by NIDA Grant DA00357-01 and the General Clinical Research Center USPHS Grant no. M01RR01070. The authors are grateful in acknowledging the contribution of Tom Smith to this manuscript.
PY - 2003/3
Y1 - 2003/3
N2 - Rationale: Dopaminergic systems are involved in the pathophysiology of alcohol use disorders, but there is little research investigating the role of these systems in adolescents. Objectives: In this study, we investigated dopaminergic systems in adolescents with alcohol abuse by determining neuroendocrine and behavioral responses to dopaminergic drug challenges. Methods: Twenty-six participants (11 with DSM IV alcohol abuse and 15 controls) were enrolled in the study. Neuroendocrine and behavioral response to the dopaminergic indirect agonist methylphenidate (10 mg) and the direct agonist pergolide (50 mcg), were examined. The primary response measures were spontaneous eye-blink rate, plasma prolactin (PRL), and growth hormone (GH). Additionally, participants completed a visual analog mood scale (VAMS). Results: The rate of increase in plasma GH level was blunted for adolescents with alcohol abuse compared to the control group, after methylphenidate administration [t=-2.75, P=0.0066, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.3, -0.048]. The rate of decrease in PRL level after pergolide administration was greater in adolescents with alcohol abuse as compared to the control group (t=-3.05, P=0.0028, 95% CI -0.01923, -0.00409). Adolescents with alcohol abuse rated themselves as less "energized" in comparison to the control group after methylphenidate (rate difference=-0.4, P=0.0231). Conclusions: This preliminary study suggests that adolescents with alcohol abuse may have a differential response to dopaminergic agonists, as also reported for adults with alcohol use disorders. Further studies investigating gender differences, and other neurotransmitter systems are needed to understand the differential dopaminergic response in adolescents with alcohol use disorders.
AB - Rationale: Dopaminergic systems are involved in the pathophysiology of alcohol use disorders, but there is little research investigating the role of these systems in adolescents. Objectives: In this study, we investigated dopaminergic systems in adolescents with alcohol abuse by determining neuroendocrine and behavioral responses to dopaminergic drug challenges. Methods: Twenty-six participants (11 with DSM IV alcohol abuse and 15 controls) were enrolled in the study. Neuroendocrine and behavioral response to the dopaminergic indirect agonist methylphenidate (10 mg) and the direct agonist pergolide (50 mcg), were examined. The primary response measures were spontaneous eye-blink rate, plasma prolactin (PRL), and growth hormone (GH). Additionally, participants completed a visual analog mood scale (VAMS). Results: The rate of increase in plasma GH level was blunted for adolescents with alcohol abuse compared to the control group, after methylphenidate administration [t=-2.75, P=0.0066, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.3, -0.048]. The rate of decrease in PRL level after pergolide administration was greater in adolescents with alcohol abuse as compared to the control group (t=-3.05, P=0.0028, 95% CI -0.01923, -0.00409). Adolescents with alcohol abuse rated themselves as less "energized" in comparison to the control group after methylphenidate (rate difference=-0.4, P=0.0231). Conclusions: This preliminary study suggests that adolescents with alcohol abuse may have a differential response to dopaminergic agonists, as also reported for adults with alcohol use disorders. Further studies investigating gender differences, and other neurotransmitter systems are needed to understand the differential dopaminergic response in adolescents with alcohol use disorders.
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U2 - 10.1007/s00213-002-1303-z
DO - 10.1007/s00213-002-1303-z
M3 - Article
C2 - 12520313
AN - SCOPUS:0037336471
SN - 0033-3158
VL - 166
SP - 95
EP - 101
JO - Psychopharmacology
JF - Psychopharmacology
IS - 2
ER -