Translational neurobiochemistry and morphometry of the hippocampus during alcohol withdrawal in humans and rats using MR spectroscopy

Einleitung: Based on previous findings of elevated glutamate concentrations in the anterior cingulate cortex during alcohol withdrawal (AWS), we investigated the neurobiology of the hippocampus. The hippocampus plays an important role in learning and plasticity and is hypothesised to be a key region in the development and maintenance of addiction. Both alcohol consumption and glutamatergic neuroexcitotoxicity is thought to damage brain tissue. Therefore we additionally related brain metabolism to morphometry in a translational approach. Methode: Alcohol dependent patients (N = 40) underwent a single voxel MR spe…