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Assessment of Cocaine-induced Behavioral Sensitization and Conditioned Place Preference in Mice
Published on: February 18, 2016
PET imaging predicts future body weight and cocaine preference
Michael Michaelides1, Panayotis K Thanos, Ronald Kim
1Behavioral Neuropharmacology Lab, Medical Department, Building 490, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973, USA.
Neuroimage
|September 6, 2011
Summary
Lower dopamine D2/D3 receptor availability is linked to increased susceptibility to obesity and cocaine addiction. This suggests inherent signaling deficits may predispose individuals to these conditions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Addiction Research
- Obesity Research
Background:
- Dopamine D2/D3 receptor (D2R/D3R) binding availability is reduced in obese humans and cocaine addicts.
- Previous studies using PET imaging indicated these deficits in humans and primates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between striatal D2R/D3R binding availability and susceptibility to weight gain and cocaine preference in rats.
- To explore the potential dissociable roles of the ventral and dorsal striatum in these behaviors.
Main Methods:
- Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging was used to measure D2R/D3R binding availability in rats.
- Correlational analyses were performed between D2R/D3R binding and measures of body weight and cocaine preference over time.
Main Results:
- D2R/D3R binding availability negatively correlated with body weight in the ventral striatum at baseline and post-scan, and in the dorsal striatum post-scan.
- Cocaine preference was negatively correlated with D2R/D3R binding availability in the ventral striatum 2 months post-scan.
- Findings suggest distinct roles for dorsal and ventral striatum in weight gain and cocaine preference.
Conclusions:
- Inherent deficits in striatal D2R/D3R signaling are associated with increased susceptibility to obesity and drug addiction.
- PET imaging of D2R/D3R binding availability can serve as a biomarker for assessing susceptibility to weight gain and cocaine abuse.
- These findings have translational implications for understanding and potentially predicting these conditions in humans.
