Dopamine D2 receptors in depression measured with single photon emission computed tomography.
Psychobiological theories of mood disorders have been concerned mainly with noradrenaline and serotonin. There exists, however, a recent upsurge of interest in dopamine. We have used single photon emission computed tomography and 123I-iodobenzamide, a high-affinity ligand for D2 receptors, to study these receptors in depression. Subjects were 21 (unipolar) depressed inpatients and 11 normal controls. The mean basal ganglia/cerebellum uptake ratio was 1.94 (+/- 0.27) in the depressed patients versus 1.74 (+/- 0.17) in the controls. This difference was statistically significant (Mann-Whitney U test, p = 0.025). These data could indicate an increase of D2 receptor density in depression.
D'haenen
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HA
Psychiatric Department, Academic Hospital, Free University of Brussels, Belgium.
Bossuyt
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A
D000328:Adult; D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D001549:Benzamides; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D003287:Contrast Media; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011759:Pyrrolidines; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon; D015854:Up-Regulation
D001549:Benzamides; D003287:Contrast Media; D011759:Pyrrolidines; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; C055743:3-iodo-2-hydroxy-6-methoxy-N-((1-ethyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)methyl)benzamide; D004298:Dopamine