TY  - JOUR
PY  - 1999//
TI  - Hippocampal to pituitary volume ratio: a specific measure of reciprocal neuroendocrine alterations in alcohol dependence
JO  - Journal of studies on alcohol
A1  - Beresford, T.
A1  - Arciniegas, D.
A1  - Rojas, D.
A1  - Sheeder, J.
A1  - Teale, P.
A1  - Aasal, R.
A1  - Sandberg, E.
A1  - Reite, M.
SP  - 586
EP  - 588
VL  - 60
IS  - 5
N2  - OBJECTIVE: Studies to date provide conflicting views of the relationship between corticosteroids and decreased hippocampal volume in alcoholism. If this were mediated through the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, enlarged pituitary volumes relative to hippocampal volumes might be expected and be measurable using the hippocampus to pituitary volume (H:P) ratio. METHOD: Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), we performed volumetric analysis of the pituitary and hippocampus on 10 subjects with alcohol dependence (AD) and on 10 normal control subjects. RESULTS: Compared to normal controls, AD subjects demonstrated a trend towards decreased hippocampal volume (p < .06) and increased pituitary volume (p < .07). More importantly, H:P ratios were significantly smaller in AD subjects (p < .01). This observation persisted even when covaried for age. CONCLUSIONS: Reduced H:P ratio fits the hypothesis that ethanol stimulates pituitary corticotrophs resulting in elevated corticosteroid levels and possible injury to the hippocampus. If replicated, reduced H:P ratio may serve as a clinical measure of reciprocal neuroendocrine changes in chronic heavy ethanol use.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0096-882X
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/
ID  - ref1
ER  -