title: Brain opioid receptor binding in early abstinence from opioid dependence: positron emission tomography study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although opioid receptor function in humans is clearly reduced during opioid dependence, what happens to the receptor in early abstinence is not understood.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study sought to examine changes in opioid receptor availability in early abstinence from opioid dependence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten people with opioid dependence who had completed in-patient detoxification and 20 healthy controls underwent [11C]-diprenorphine positron emission tomography. Clinical variables were assessed with structured questionnaires. Opioid receptor binding was characterised as the volume of distribution of [11C]-diprenorphine using a template of predefined brain volumes and an exploratory voxel-by-voxel analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with controls, participants with opioid dependence had increased [11C]-diprenorphine binding in the whole brain and in 15 of the 21 a priori regions studied.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that opioid receptor binding is increased throughout the brain in early abstinence from dependent opioid use. These data complement the findings in cocaine and alcohol dependence.
authors.affiliation: Psychopharmacology Unit, University of Bristol, and Bristol Specialist Drug Service, Blackberry Hill Hospital, UK.
authors.forename: Tim M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Mark R C
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Daglish
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lingford-Hughes
authors.forename: Lindsay G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hammers
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Brooks
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Grasby
authors.forename: Judith S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Myles
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Nutt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004174:Diprenorphine / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000378:metabolism; D053610:Opiate Alkaloids / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000378:metabolism*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods; D011957:Receptors, Opioid / Q000378:metabolism*; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D053610:Opiate Alkaloids; D011957:Receptors, Opioid; D004174:Diprenorphine