Cerebral blood flow effects of acute intravenous heroin administration.
We examined acute effects of intravenous diacetylmorphine (heroin) administration - which induces a characteristic biphasic response: A short rush-sensation associated with intense pleasurable feelings followed by a subjectively different period of euphoria on cerebral blood flow. This was assessed in nine male heroin dependent patients participating in a heroin maintenance program in a setting resembling everyday pattern of heroin abuse. 99mTc-HMPAO was administered 45 s (rush) and 15 min (euphoria) after administration of i.v. heroin and 45 s after administration of saline (placebo). Plasma concentration of diacetylmorphine and its metabolites were measured with high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Compared to the euphoria condition, rush was associated with blood flow increase in the left posterior cerebellar lobe, left anterior cingulate gyrus and right precuneus. Our results are in line with recent reports indicating that the cerebellum is an important component in functional brain systems subserving sensory and motor integration, learning, modulation of affect, motivation and social behaviour, which all play important roles in reinforcing properties of opioids.
Kosel
Markus
M
Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital, Bonn, Germany.
Noss
Roger S
RS
Hämmig
Robert
R
Wielepp
Peter
P
Bundeli
Petra
P
Heidbreder
Rebeca
R
Kinser
Jane A
JA
Brenneisen
Rudolf
R
Fisch
Hans-Ulrich
HU
Kayser
Sarah
S
Schlaepfer
Thomas E
TE
D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D005059:Euphoria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D003932:Heroin / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009294:Narcotics / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019690:Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
D009294:Narcotics; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019690:Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime; D003932:Heroin; D010100:Oxygen