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Updated: Oct 4, 2026

Single Cell Measurement of Dopamine Release with Simultaneous Voltage-clamp and Amperometry
Published on: November 21, 2012
Dopamine D(2) receptor availability and amphetamine-induced dopamine release in unipolar depression
R V Parsey1, M A Oquendo, Y Zea-Ponce
1Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA.
Background:
Reduced dopaminergic transmission has been implicated in the pathophysiology of major depression. The aim of the present study was to measure striatal D(2) receptor availability and amphetamine-induced dopamine release in nonpsychotic, unmedicated, unipolar patients during an episode of major depression.
Methods:
The striatal equilibrium specific to nonspecific partition coefficient (V(3)") of the D(2) receptor antagonist [(123)I]IBZM was measured with single photon emission computerized tomography before and after amphetamine administration in 9 depressed subjects and 10 matched healthy control subjects.
Results:
No significant differences were observed in preamphetamine D(2) receptor availability between depressed patients (0.73 +/- 0.08) and control subjects (0.78 +/- 0.10, p =.23). Amphetamine-induced reduction in [(123)I]IBZM V(3)" (DeltaV(3)") was similar in depressed patients (-9.8 +/- 5.5%) and control subjects (-7.8 +/- 2.5%, p =.32). Amphetamine induced a transient improvement in symptomatology in depressed patients, but this improvement did not correlate with [(123)I]IBZM DeltaV(3)".
Conclusions:
This study did not replicate previously reported alterations in striatal D(2) receptor density in depressed patients and suggests that stimulant-induced dopamine release is not altered in major depression.
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