Dose-response measures of rCBF and subjective changes following procaine in healthy female volunteers.
The intravenous administration of procaine shows relatively specific activation of limbic structures. Several investigators have utilized this property of procaine to probe limbic system dysfunction in neuropsychiatric disorders. The dose of procaine utilized in human studies varies significantly, however, and the optimal dose of procaine as a limbic probe has not been demonstrated. In two 10-individual groups of healthy female volunteers, we assessed the regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) response, by single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), to saline and 1.38 mg/kg procaine (Group I), and saline, 0.5 mg/kg and 1.0 mg/kg procaine (Group II). Compared to saline, 0.5 mg/kg procaine produced minimal rCBF changes, 1.0 mg/kg procaine induced both limbic and non-limbic activation, and 1.38 mg/kg procaine showed relatively specific rCBF limbic activation. Subjective responses increased in a dose-response manner. We conclude that a dose of 1.38 mg/kg procaine provides a more limited and specific activation of limbic structures than 1.00 mg/kg procaine and thus may be more useful as a specific probe of limbic function.
Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 4500 S. Lancaster Rd., TX 75216, Dallas, USA. byron.adinoff@utsouthwestern.edu
Bryon
B
Adinoff
Michael D
MD
Devous
Susan E
SE
Best
Deanna
D
Alexander
J
J
Kelly Payne
Mark
M
Williams
D000328:Adult; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000187:drug effects*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008032:Limbic System / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D011343:Procaine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D011343:Procaine