SLC6A3 and alcohol dependence: Similarly, lower striatal DAT availability has been found in the striatum of depressed individuals.18, 19 Recently, however, the DAT1 9 R allele has been implicated in amygdala reactivity to salient cues.38 In an animal model of alcoholism, Jiao et al.39 found that chronic alcohol use increased DAT binding in the amygdala and substantia nigra in depressive-like and non-depressive-like rat strains, but only in the NAc of depressed rats.