Serotonergic and noradrenergic dysregulation in alcoholism: m- chlorophenylpiperazine and yohimbine effects in recently detoxified alcoholics and healthy comparison subjects

Abstract

This study documents persistent alterations in neuroendocrine responsivity of both 5-HT and noradrenergic systems in alcoholic patients after detoxification. Blunted cortisol responses to mCPP in these recently detoxified patients may reflect reductions in 5-HT2 receptor function. The absence of altered MHPG responses to yohimbine in the alcoholic patients suggests that presynaptic noradrenergic responsivity is not persistently altered in these patients. In contrast, the enhanced cortisol responses and reduced pulse responses to yohimbine in alcoholic patients may reflect down-regulation of postsynaptic noradrenergic receptors.