Dopamine transporter density in young patients with schizophrenia assessed with [123]FP-CIT SPECT.
Disturbances in the dopamine (DA) system are thought to play a major role in schizophrenia. Amphetamine-induced release of endogenous DA is shown to be enhanced in schizophrenia, as is striatal [18F]FDOPA uptake in the striatum. It is not clear if the density of DA neurons is altered in schizophrenia. By studying the DA transporter with [123I]FP-CIT single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), the density of nigrostriatal dopaminergic cells can be studied. Using [123I]FP-CIT SPECT, DA transporter density in the striatum was studied in 36 young patients with schizophrenia. Ten patients were antipsychotic (AP)-naive, 15 were treated with olanzapine, eight with risperidone and three were AP-free. A control group of 10 age-matched volunteers was included. Striatal [123I]FP-CIT binding was not significantly different between AP-naive patients (2.87), patients treated with olanzapine (2.76), patients treated with risperidone (2.76), AP-free patients (2.68) and controls (2.82) (F=0.07,p=0.98). Unexpectedly, striatal [123I]FP-CIT binding in females was significantly higher than in males (3.29 and 2.70, respectively; t=-2.56, p=0.014).Concluding, functional changes in the dopaminergic system in schizophrenia are not likely to be reflected in a change in DA transporter density. Moreover, DA transporter density does not seem to be altered by AP medication.
Lavalaye
J
J
Department of Psychiatry, Academic Medical Center, Tafelbergweg 25, 1105 BC Amsterdam, The Netherlands. j.lavalaye@amc.uva.nl
Linszen
D H
DH
Booij
J
J
Dingemans
P M
PM
Reneman
L
L
Habraken
J B
JB
Gersons
B P
BP
van Royen
E A
EA
D000328:Adult; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects; D000077152:Olanzapine; D010890:Pirenzepine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018967:Risperidone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon; D014326:Tropanes
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D014326:Tropanes; D001569:Benzodiazepines; C087552:2-carbomethoxy-8-(3-fluoropropyl)-3-(4-iodophenyl)tropane; D010890:Pirenzepine; D018967:Risperidone; D000077152:Olanzapine