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Related Experiment Videos

The apomorphine test in heroin addicts

M Casas1, J Guardia, G Prat

  • 1Departament de Farmacologia i Psiquiatria, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, Hospital de la Sta Creu i St Pau, Avda St Antoni Ma Claret, Spain.

Addiction (Abingdon, England)
|June 1, 1995
PubMed
Summary

Heroin addiction may increase dopamine system sensitivity, similar to animal studies. The apomorphine test, measuring yawns, showed greater sensitivity in heroin addicts compared to healthy individuals, suggesting a potential diagnostic marker.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Pharmacology
  • Addiction Medicine

Background:

  • Chronic opiate use in animals leads to dopamine receptor supersensitivity.
  • The apomorphine test measures dopamine system sensitivity in humans via yawn response.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if chronic heroin use in humans causes dopamine system supersensitivity.
  • To determine if the apomorphine test can differentiate heroin addicts from healthy controls.

Main Methods:

  • Apomorphine test administered to male heroin addicts and healthy male university students.
  • Subcutaneous injection of low-dose apomorphine (0.005 mg/kg).
  • Quantification of induced yawns as a measure of dopamine system sensitivity.

Main Results:

Related Experiment Videos

  • Heroin addicts exhibited a significantly greater number of yawns post-apomorphine administration (p < 0.05).
  • This indicates enhanced dopamine neurotransmitter system sensitivity in individuals with a history of heroin use.

Conclusions:

  • Findings support the hypothesis of dopamine system supersensitivity in chronic heroin users.
  • The apomorphine test shows potential as a method to identify heightened dopamine sensitivity associated with heroin addiction.