Decreased dopamine transporter availability in male smokers -- a dual isotope SPECT study.
BACKGROUND
Although the mesolimbic dopaminergic system has been shown to play a role in reinforcing tobacco smoking, results of imaging studies that examine the relationship between tobacco smoking and the central dopamine system remain discrepant. To delineate the role of tobacco addiction in central pre- and post-synaptic dopaminergic activities, we analyzed the central D2-family receptors, the dopamine transporters (DAT), and degrees of dependence in male smokers.


METHODS
Eleven male smokers and 11 healthy non-smokers were recruited. The striatal dopamine D2/D3 receptor availability was approximated using SPECT and [123 I] IBZM while the DAT availability was approximated using SPECT and [99m Tc] TRODAT-1. All of the smokers completed the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) and other related questionnaires.


RESULTS
A decrease in DAT availability in the striatum of male smokers is noted (p<05). However, the striatal D2/D3 receptor availability in male smokers does not differ from that of non-smokers.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that cigarette smoking may alter central dopamine functions in males, particularly at the pre-synaptic sites.
Yang
Yen Kuang
YK
Department of Psychiatry, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, 138 Sheng Li Road, Tainan 70428, Taiwan. ykyang@mail.ncku.edu.tw
Yao
Wei Jen
WJ
Yeh
Tzung Lieh
TL
Lee
I Hui
IH
Chen
Po See
PS
Lu
Ru Band
RB
Chiu
Nan Tsing
NT
D000328:Adult; D001549:Benzamides / Q000378:metabolism; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D007456:Iodine Isotopes / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011759:Pyrrolidines / Q000378:metabolism; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000378:metabolism; D012907:Smoking / Q000378:metabolism*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon; D014326:Tropanes / Q000378:metabolism
D001549:Benzamides; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D007456:Iodine Isotopes; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D011759:Pyrrolidines; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; D014326:Tropanes; C104196:technetium Tc 99m TRODAT-1; C055743:3-iodo-2-hydroxy-6-methoxy-N-((1-ethyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)methyl)benzamide