Objectives-We used a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) paradigm with the D 2/3 radiotracer [ 11 C]raclopride and an alcohol challenge to examine the magnitude of alcohol induced dopamine release and compare it between young men and women.Methods-Twenty-one non-alcohol dependent young social drinkers completed two PET scans on separate days following ingestion of a juice mix containing either ethanol (0.75 mg/kg body water) or trace ethanol only.The extent of dopamine released after alcohol was estimated by the percent difference in [ 11 C]raclopride binding potential (ΔBP ND ) between days.Results-Alcohol administration significantly displaced [ 11 C]raclopride in all striatal subregions indicating dopamine release, with the largest effect observed in the ventral striatum. Linear mixed model analysis across all striatal subregions of regional ΔBP ND with region of interest as repeated measure showed a highly significant effect of sex (p < 0.001). Ventrostriatal dopamine release in men, but not in women, showed a significant positive correlation to alcohol-induced measures of subjective activation. Furthermore, we found a significant negative correlation between the frequency of maximum alcohol consumption per 24 hours and ventrostriatal ΔBP ND (r=0.739, p=0.009) in men.Conclusions-This study provides definitive evidence that oral alcohol induces dopamine release in non-alcoholic human subjects, and shows sex differences in the magnitude of this effect. The ability of alcohol to stimulate dopamine release may contribute to its rewarding effects and, thereby, to its abuse liability in humans. Our report further suggests several biological mechanisms that may mediate the difference in vulnerability for alcoholism between men and women.

Provided that the intensity of sweating is the main factor affecting the quality of life after surgery in patients, performing a SMAS flap renders the intervention worthwhile.

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