Citation

Vinod KY, Kassir SA, Hungund BL, Cooper TB, Mann JJ, Arango V. J. Psychiatr. Res. 2010; 44(9): 591-597.

Affiliation

Division of Analytical Psychopharmacology, Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY, USA; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, NY, USA; Division of Analytical Psychopharmacology, New

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jpsychires.2009.11.013

PMID

20015515

PMCID

PMC2878847

Abstract

Recent studies in rodents have suggested a role for the central endocannabinoid system in the regulation of mood and alcohol related behaviors. Alcohol use disorder is often associated with suicidal behavior. In the present study, we examined whether abnormalities in the endocannabinoid system in the ventral striatum are associated with alcohol dependence and suicide. The levels of CB1 receptors, receptor-mediated G-protein signaling, and activity and level of the fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) were analyzed postmortem in the ventral striatum of alcohol-dependent nonsuicides (CA, n=9), alcohol-dependent suicides (AS, n=9) and nonpsychiatric controls (C, n=9). All subjects underwent a psychological autopsy, and toxicological and neuropathological examinations. The levels of the CB1 receptors and the CB1 receptor-mediated G-protein signaling were significantly lower in the ventral striatum of CA compared to the control group. However, these parameters were elevated in AS when compared to CA group. The activity of FAAH enzyme was lower in CA compared to the control group while it was found to be significantly higher in AS compared with CA group. These findings suggest that alcohol dependence is associated with the downregulation of the CB1 receptors, while suicide is linked to the upregulation of these receptors in the ventral striatum. Alteration in the activity of FAAH enzyme that regulates the anandamide (AEA) content might in turn explain differences in the CB1 receptor function in alcohol dependence and suicide. These findings may have etiological and therapeutic implications for the treatment of alcohol addiction and suicidal behavior.

Language: en