Blue cone electroretinogram amplitudes are related to dopamine function in cocaine-dependent patients.
The objective of the study was to examine the relationship between an index of central dopamine function and electroretinographic (ERG) blue cone amplitudes in cocaine-dependent patients. Thus, 17 recently abstinent cocaine-dependent patients had an ERG performed. They also had a lumbar puncture for determination of cerebrospinal (CSF) concentrations of the dopamine metabolite homovanillic acid (HVA). It was found that patients who had reduced ERG blue cone b-wave amplitudes (<0.5 microV) had significantly lower concentrations of CSF HVA than patients who had ERG blue cone b-wave amplitudes greater than 0.5 microV. There was also a significant positive correlation between ERG blue cone amplitudes and CSF HVA concentrations. These results suggest the possibility that ERG blue cone amplitudes may be a neurobiologic marker related to central dopamine function in cocaine-dependent patients.
Roy
Alec
A
Psychiatry Service (116A), Department of Veterans Affairs, New Jersey Healthcare System, 385 Tremont Avenue, East Orange, NJ 07018, USA. Alec.Roy@med.va.gov
Roy
Monique
M
Berman
Jeffrey
J
Gonzalez
Bienvenido
B
D000328:Adult; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000502:physiology*; D004596:Electroretinography / Q000295:instrumentation; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
D004298:Dopamine; D006719:Homovanillic Acid