title: Enhanced dopamine release by nicotine in cigarette smokers: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study.
abstract: Previous studies of smoking on dopamine release in humans were investigated only in smokers. Using nicotine gum, we examined the effect of nicotine on dopamine release in smokers and non-smokers and its relation to the degree of nicotine dependence. Smokers and non-smokers participated in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled cross-over study. They participated in two PET measurements with [11C]raclopride, in which they received either nicotine or placebo. Changes in [11C]raclopride non-displaceable binding potential (BPND) following nicotine administration were quantified. Smokers showed significant decrease in BP in the striatum following nicotine administration, but non-smokers did not show such a decrease. The BPND difference between the two scanning sessions was correlated with the degree of nicotine dependence. The BPND difference might reflect enhanced dopamine release in smokers and the reinforced effect of nicotine. These data suggest the feasibility of our gum method as well as the importance of the degree of dependence in future studies of the nicotine effect on the dopamine system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Neuroimaging, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, Anagawa, Inage-ku, Chiba, Japan.
authors.forename: Hidehiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Yota
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fujimura
authors.forename: Mika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: Harumasa
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takano
authors.forename: Motoichiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Yoshiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Okubo
authors.forename: Iwao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kanno
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suhara
mesh_terms: D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017072:Neostriatum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects; D009538:Nicotine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011109:Polymethacrylic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011145:Polyvinyls / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D020891:Raclopride; D012907:Smoking / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D061485:Tobacco Use Cessation Devices
chemical_list: D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists; D011109:Polymethacrylic Acids; D011145:Polyvinyls; D020891:Raclopride; D009538:Nicotine; D004298:Dopamine