Poster Sessions

CI -11

Vijay Ramchandani

S. Brar, V. A. Ramchandani, H. Y. Kim, D. Herion, D. T. George, J. Venitz

EFFECTS OF SMOKING ON R- AND S-SALSOLINOL AND DOPAMINE IN A HEALTHY POPULATION AND DURING ALCOHOL DETOXIFICATION.

R- and S-salsolinol (SAL) are aromatic alkaloids produced via condensation of acetaldehyde with dopamine (DA) and are currently being explored as biomarkers of alcohol- and smoking-dependence. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of detoxification and smoking on plasma R- and S-SAL in alcoholics. Male and female alcoholics (n=35, 12 non-smokers, 11 light-smokers, 12 heavy-smokers) were followed during in-patient detoxification over two weeks. Plasma samples were obtained on days 1, 2, 3, 8 and 15, and assayed for R- and S-SAL and DA levels by validated LC-MS-MS assays. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms were assessed using the CIWA-Ar instrument. A statistically significant increase with time was observed for SAL, but not DA, while CIWA-AR scores decreased over the first three days. Neither smoking status nor gender had a significant effect on R-SAL, S-SAL or DA levels. Comparison between this alcoholic group and a healthy population (after smoking abstention for 15 hours and immediately following cigarette smoking) showed that R- and S-SAL levels in alcoholics, regardless of their smoking status, were more than 50% lower than levels seen in healthy subjects The elevation in R- and S-SAL levels with smoking status observed in healthy volunteers was blunted in the alcoholic group.