Nucleus accumbens D2/3 receptors predict trait impulsivity and cocaine reinforcement.
Stimulant addiction is often linked to excessive risk taking, sensation seeking, and impulsivity, but in ways that are poorly understood. We report here that a form of impulsivity in rats predicts high rates of intravenous cocaine self-administration and is associated with changes in dopamine (DA) function before drug exposure. Using positron emission tomography, we demonstrated that D2/3 receptor availability is significantly reduced in the nucleus accumbens of impulsive rats that were never exposed to cocaine and that such effects are independent of DA release. These data demonstrate that trait impulsivity predicts cocaine reinforcement and that D2 receptor dysfunction in abstinent cocaine addicts may, in part, be determined by premorbid influences.
Dalley
Jeffrey W
JW
Behavioral and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EB, UK. jwd20@cam.ac.uk
Fryer
Tim D
TD
Brichard
Laurent
L
Robinson
Emma S J
ES
Theobald
David E H
DE
Lääne
Kristjan
K
Peña
Yolanda
Y
Murphy
Emily R
ER
Shah
Yasmene
Y
Probst
Katrin
K
Abakumova
Irina
I
Aigbirhio
Franklin I
FI
Richards
Hugh K
HK
Hong
Young
Y
Baron
Jean-Claude
JC
Everitt
Barry J
BJ
Robbins
Trevor W
TW
D000818:Animals; D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D001549:Benzamides / Q000378:metabolism; D003042:Cocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000378:metabolism / Q000523:psychology; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D007175:Impulsive Behavior; D008297:Male; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011759:Pyrrolidines / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011930:Reaction Time; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D050637:Receptors, Dopamine D3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D012646:Self Administration; D009435:Synaptic Transmission
D001549:Benzamides; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; C094948:N-((1-allyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)methyl)-5-(3-fluoropropyl)-2,3-dimethoxybenzamide; D011759:Pyrrolidines; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; D050637:Receptors, Dopamine D3; D003042:Cocaine; D004298:Dopamine