CART PEPTIDES AND FREE OXYGEN RADICALS IN ALCOHOL ADDICTION.

LEYTES E; ABUD M; PONCE C; CEJUDO C; CAYADO GUTIERREZ N; MOTTUCA M; BIANCHI R.

Mendoza

Congreso; XXVIII Reunión Anual de la Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo; 2010

Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo

The relationship between aggressive behavior and alcoholic addiction is well known. The relationship between neuroendocrinological factors and alcoholic addiction has also been studied. The aim of the present work was to investigate the probable relationship between aggression, addiction and neuroendocrinological factors. We included the molecular aspect in relation to CART (Cocaine ? Amphetamine - Regulated Transcript) peptides, which play an important role in the action of psychostimulants, feeding, body weight and stress and glucocorticoids, with generation of free oxygen radicals quantified through malonyldialdehyde (MDA). In twelve addicted patients and ten controls we quantified prolactin, cortisol and ACTH by RIA, MDA by Biox Nº 21012 kit and serum CART peptides by EIA according to Portsmann methods. Preliminary results show higher MDA values in patients (1.65±0.18 micromol/l) vs controls (0.68±0.12 umol/l). No significant differences were observed in prolactin, cortisol or ACTH. CART peptides were significantly lower in addicted patients (0.26±0.05 vs 2.40±0.60 ng/ml). Results suggest a role of CART and reactive oxygen species in alcoholic addiction genesis in humans.