Longitudinal changes of dopamine transporters in heroin users during abstinence

Chronic exposure to heroin results in decreased dopamine transporter levels. Jitai tablets, a traditional Chinese medicine, have been effective at increasing striatal dopamine transporter availability after 6 months of treatment. However, it remains unknown how long the heroin-induced impairment persists and whether dopamine transporter can be normalized following long-term abstinence or treatment.

This study was to evaluate the time course of dopamine transporter changes in heroin users undergoing long-term abstinence and treatment with Jitai tablets for 1 year.

Single-photon emission computed tomography using [(99m)Tc]TRODAT-1 was performed on 64 heroin users and 20 healthy subjects to assess striatal dopamine transporter availability at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months. Heroin users were randomly assigned to treatment with either placebo or Jitai tablets. Depression and anxiety scores were measured before each imaging session.

Compared with healthy controls, significant reduction in dopamine transporter availability was found in heroin users at baseline in both the right (by ∼ 31.6%) and left striatum (by ∼ 33.2%). At 6 months, dopamine transporter availability was significantly higher in Jitai tablet-treated group than placebo group in the bilateral striatum (p < 0.01). At 12 months, dopamine transporter levels in both groups were upregulated substantially from baseline but still not recovered to normal levels in the left striatum (p < 0.05). Depression and anxiety scores significantly decreased at 3, 6, and 12 months (p < 0.05).

Our results confirmed that heroin abuse induces pronounced, long-term reduction in dopamine transporter. Treatment with Jitai tablets appears to stimulate recovery.