Reduced dopamine D1 receptor binding in the ventral striatum of cigarette smokers

Citation
A. Dagher et al., Reduced dopamine D1 receptor binding in the ventral striatum of cigarette smokers, SYNAPSE, 42(1), 2001, pp. 48-53
Citations number
58
Categorie Soggetti
Neurosciences & Behavoir
Journal title
SYNAPSE
ISSN journal
08874476 → ACNP
Volume
42
Issue
1
Year of publication
2001
Pages
48 - 53
Database
ISI
SICI code
0887-4476(200110)42:1<48:RDDRBI>2.0.ZU;2-B
Abstract
Several drugs of abuse, including nicotine, are thought to exert their rein forcing effects through actions on the mesolimbic dopamine system. Animal a nd human studies suggest that chronic administration of addictive drugs may lead to impaired dopamine neurotransmission in the nucleus accumbens. We m easured DI receptor density in 11 smokers and 18 nonsmokers using positron emission tomography and the D1 receptor ligand [C-11]SCH 23390. Ten of the smokers were scanned twice, once after overnight abstinence from cigarettes , and once while smoking at their usual rate, to account for possible acute effects of cigarette smoking on D1 receptor binding. In addition, eight co ntrol subjects were scanned twice to assess the reproducibility of the meth od. We used compartmental modeling to measure [C-11]SCH 23390 binding poten tial, a measure of D1 receptor density. There were no differences in bindin g between abstinent and nonabstinent scans in smokers or in the two scans i n controls. However, there was a significant reduction in [C-11]SCH 23390 b inding potential in smokers compared to nonsmokers in the striatum, most pr ominently in the ventral striatum. This suggests that there is a reduction in dopamine D1 receptor density in the ventral striatum of human cigarette smokers relative to nonsmokers, which implies that the postsynaptic mesolim bic dopamine system may be chronically underactive in smokers, either as an antecedent or consequence of addiction to cigarettes. Such a hypodopaminer gic state may play an important role in sustaining nicotine-seeking behavio r. Alternatively, an inherited reduction in dopamine receptors in the stria tum may be associated with an increased risk of addictive behavior. Synapse 42:48-53, 2001. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.