NCT01638364

Dopamine Release in the Human Brain Following Alcohol Administration

Imaging Alcohol Induced Dopamine Release in the Human Brain: a PET/[11C](+)PHNO Study

• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 1
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 8 (actual)
• Sponsor: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 21 Years – 45 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The purpose of this study is to examine whether there is an increase in dopamine levels in the human striatum following an oral administration of alcohol, as has been evidenced in animal models. This will be a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) study using the radiotracer, \[11C\]-(+)-PHNO (11C\]-( + )-4-propyl- 3,4,4a,5,6,10b-hexahydro-2H-naphtho\[1,2-b\]\[1,4\]oxazin-9-ol).

Detailed description

This will be a within subjects study in 8 heavy drinkers ages 21-45. The within factors will be PET scans following an alcoholic beverage and following a non-alcoholic beverage. Participants will also have a baseline session prior to the scans where they will complete various cognitive tasks and questionnaires. During each PET scan, subjective drug effects as well as heart rate, blood pressure, blood alcohol content and cortisol levels will be collected. The change in PHNO binding potential between the two scan conditions will be the primary outcome measure.

Conditions

• Heavy Drinking

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DRUG	alcoholic beverage	An appropriate amount of 95% USP ethyl alcohol will be mixed in orange juice and tonic water to obtain a drink equivalent to 3-5 standard drinks. The beverage will be consumed over a period of 15 minutes.
DRUG	non-alcoholic beverage	This beverage will be a mixture of orange juice and tonic water. The beverage will be consumed over a period of 15 minutes.

Timeline

• Start date: 2013-01-01
• Primary completion: 2015-06-01
• Completion: 2015-06-01
• First posted: 2012-07-11
• Last updated: 2015-07-28

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Canada