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Serotonin 5-HT2 receptor availability in chronic cocaine abusers
G J Wang1, N D Volkow, J Logan
1Medical Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973, USA.
Life Sciences
|March 10, 1995
Summary
Positron emission tomography revealed no significant differences in serotonin 5-HT2 receptor availability between chronic cocaine abusers and control subjects, particularly in key brain regions like the frontal and orbitofrontal cortices.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neuroimaging
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Serotonin 5-HT2 receptors play a crucial role in brain function and are implicated in various neuropsychiatric disorders.
- Chronic cocaine abuse is associated with neurochemical alterations, but the specific impact on serotonin receptor systems remains under investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate serotonin 5-HT2 receptor availability in the brains of individuals with chronic cocaine abuse.
- To compare 5-HT2 receptor availability in specific cortical regions between cocaine abusers and healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging was employed using the radiotracer F-18 N-methylspiperone.
- 5-HT2 receptor availability was quantified in the frontal cortex, occipital cortex, cingulate cortex, and orbitofrontal cortex.
- Measurements were compared between a group of 19 chronic cocaine abusers and 19 age-matched healthy control subjects.
Main Results:
- Serotonin 5-HT2 receptor availability was found to be significantly higher in the cingulate and orbitofrontal cortices compared to other frontal and occipital regions.
- No significant differences in 5-HT2 receptor availability were observed between the chronic cocaine abusers and the control subjects across the evaluated brain regions.
Conclusions:
- The study did not find evidence of altered serotonin 5-HT2 receptor availability in chronic cocaine abusers compared to healthy individuals.
- These findings suggest that 5-HT2 receptor systems may not be significantly dysregulated in chronic cocaine dependence, at least as measured by this PET methodology.