Sex differences in extrastriatal dopamine d(2)-like receptors in the human brain.
OBJECTIVE
The study examined gender differences in extrastriatal dopamine D2-like receptor levels in the human brain in vivo.


METHODS
[(11)C]FLB 457, a high-affinity radioligand for extrastriatal D(2)-like receptors, and a three-dimensional positron emission tomography system were used to measure D(2)-like receptor binding potentials in frontal cortex, temporal cortex, and thalamus in 12 healthy men and 12 healthy women.


RESULTS
Women had higher D(2)-like receptor binding potentials than men in the three brain regions studied, and the difference in the frontal cortex was statistically significant. In a more detailed regional analysis, the difference between the sexes was most pronounced for the left and right anterior cingulate cortex.


CONCLUSIONS
This study provides in vivo evidence for a gender difference in dopamine D(2)-like receptor levels, which could be reflected in gender-associated differences in clinical disorders linked to the dopamine system.
Kaasinen
V
V
Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, University of Turku, Finland. valtteri.kaasinen@pet.tyks.fi
Någren
K
K
Hietala
J
J
Farde
L
L
Rinne
J O
JO
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D011759:Pyrrolidines; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D012457:Salicylamides; D012737:Sex Factors; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D013788:Thalamus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D011759:Pyrrolidines; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; D012457:Salicylamides; C065065:FLB 457