Excessive alcohol consumption is associated with brain aberrations, including abnormalities in frontal and limbic brain regions. In a prior diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) study of neuronal circuitry connecting the frontal lobes and limbic system structures, we demonstrated decreases in white matter fractional anisotropy in abstinent alcoholic men. In the present study, we examined sex differences in alcoholism-related abnormalities of white matter connectivity and their association with alcoholism history. The dMRI scans were acquired from 49 abstinent alcoholic individuals (26 women) and 41 nonalcoholic controls (22 women). Tract-based spatial statistical tools were used to estimate regional FA of white matter tracts and to determine sex differences and their relation to measures of alcoholism history. Sex-related differences in white matter connectivity were observed in association with alcoholism: Compared to nonalcoholic men, alcoholic men had diminished FA in portions of the corpus callosum, the superior longitudinal fasciculi II and III, and the arcuate fasciculus and extreme capsule. In contrast, alcoholic women had higher FA in these regions. Sex differences also were observed for correlations between corpus callosum FA and length of sobriety. Our results suggest that sexual dimorphism in white matter microstructure in abstinent alcoholics may implicate underlying differences in the neurobehavioral liabilities for developing alcohol abuse disorders, or for sequelae following abuse.

中文翻译：

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酒精中毒时脑白质性二态性：扩散张量成像研究。

过量饮酒与大脑畸变有关，包括额叶和边缘大脑区域的异常。在先前的连接额叶和边缘系统结构的神经元回路的扩散张量磁共振成像（dMRI）研究中，我们证明了戒酒男子的白质分数各向异性降低。在本研究中，我们研究了与酒精中毒相关的白质连通性异常及其与酒精中毒史的关联方面的性别差异。dMRI扫描来自49名戒酒者（26名女性）和41名非酒精性对照（22名女性）。基于趋势的空间统计工具用于估计白质区域的区域FA，并确定性别差异及其与酗酒史测量的关系。观察到与酒精中毒有关的白质连通性的性别相关差异：与非酒精中毒男性相比，酒精中毒男性的call体，上纵筋膜II和III，弓形筋膜和极膜囊的FA减少。相比之下，酗酒女性在这些地区的FA较高。observed体FA与清醒时长之间的相关性也观察到性别差异。我们的研究结果表明，戒酒者的白质微观结构中的性二态性可能暗示了发生酒精滥用障碍或滥用后遗症的神经行为责任的根本差异。酗酒的男子减少了call体，上纵筋膜II和III以及弓形筋膜和终极囊的部分中的FA。相比之下，酗酒女性在这些地区的FA较高。observed体FA与清醒时长之间的相关性也观察到性别差异。我们的研究结果表明，戒酒者的白质微观结构中的性二态性可能暗示了发生酒精滥用障碍或滥用后遗症的神经行为责任的根本差异。酗酒的男子减少了call体，上纵筋膜II和III以及弓形筋膜和终极囊的部分中的FA。相比之下，酗酒女性在这些地区的FA较高。observed体FA与清醒时长之间的相关性也观察到性别差异。我们的研究结果表明，戒酒者的白质微观结构中的性二态性可能暗示了发生酒精滥用障碍或滥用后遗症的神经行为责任的根本差异。