Abstract
In all, 19 research subjects, with current histories of frequent cocaine use, were exposed to cocaine-related cues to elicit drug craving. We measured the change of occupancy of dopamine at D2-like receptors with positron emission tomography (PET) and inferred a change of intrasynaptic dopamine (endogenous dopamine release), based on the displacement of radiotracer [(11)C]raclopride. Receptor occupancy by dopamine increased significantly in putamen of participants who reported cue-elicited craving compared to those who did not. Further, the intensity of craving was positively correlated with the increase in dopamine receptor occupancy in the putamen. These results provide direct evidence that occupancy of dopamine receptors in human dorsal striatum increased in proportion to subjective craving, presumably because of increased release of intrasynaptic dopamine.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Adult
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Binding, Competitive / drug effects
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Binding, Competitive / physiology
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Brain Mapping
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Carbon Radioisotopes
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Cocaine / adverse effects*
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Cocaine-Related Disorders / diagnostic imaging
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Cocaine-Related Disorders / metabolism*
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Cocaine-Related Disorders / physiopathology
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Corpus Striatum / drug effects*
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Corpus Striatum / metabolism
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Corpus Striatum / physiopathology
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Cues*
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Dopamine / metabolism*
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Dopamine Antagonists
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Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / adverse effects
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Female
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Functional Laterality / drug effects
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Functional Laterality / physiology
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Humans
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Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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Male
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Neurons / drug effects
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Neurons / metabolism
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Positron-Emission Tomography
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Predictive Value of Tests
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Presynaptic Terminals / drug effects
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Presynaptic Terminals / metabolism
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Raclopride / metabolism
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Receptors, Dopamine / drug effects*
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Receptors, Dopamine / metabolism
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Synaptic Transmission / drug effects
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Synaptic Transmission / physiology
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Up-Regulation / drug effects
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Up-Regulation / physiology
Substances
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Carbon Radioisotopes
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Dopamine Antagonists
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Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors
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Receptors, Dopamine
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Raclopride
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Cocaine
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Dopamine