title: Effect of the 5-HT1A partial agonist buspirone on regional cerebral blood flow in man.
abstract: Repeated measurements of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) were made in normal volunteers before, and after, the administration of the 5-HT1A partial agonist, buspirone, or placebo. The difference in rCBF, before and after drug, (buspirone versus placebo) was used to identify brain areas affected by buspirone. Buspirone-induced changes in rCBF were studied under two behavioural conditions (5 word-list learning and 15 word-list learning). Compared to placebo, buspirone increased blood flow in the cuneus during both behavioural states. However, decreases in blood flow, centred in the left dorso-lateral prefrontal cortex and posterior cingulate cortex, were only observed under one of the two behavioural conditions. It is concluded that buspirone-induced alterations in regional cerebral blood flow are better understood, not in relation to the known distribution of monoamine neurotransmitter systems (particularly ascending 5-HT projections), but rather in relation to putative neuronal circuits possibly many synapses "downstream" of buspirone's pharmacological site of action.
authors.affiliation: MRC Cyclotron Unit, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Grasby
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Friston
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bench
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Cowen
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Frith
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Liddle
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Frackowiak
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Dolan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal / Q000187:drug effects; D002065:Buspirone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000187:drug effects*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000097:blood; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed
chemical_list: D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D011388:Prolactin; D013006:Growth Hormone; D002065:Buspirone