PET IMAGING OF OPIATE RECEPTORS IN COCAINE ABUSE

这项研究的长期目标是阐明μ阿片类药物的作用， 受体在可卡因成瘾使用正电子发射断层扫描（PET）。 为了理解可卡因的强化机制， 最近集中在内源性阿片样物质和阿片受体的作用。 有令人信服的实验动物数据表明，可卡因 影响阿片系统;这些结果正在成功地应用于 使用部分阿片激动剂治疗可卡因成瘾者， 丁丙诺啡PET首次提供机会， 测量人类可卡因成瘾者的μ阿片受体， 选择性配体，11 C-卡芬太尼。初步结果显示， 实验室是有希望的：在几个大脑区域的μ阿片受体， 可卡因滥用者的数量显著增加。因此，这一具体目标 该提案是：测量可卡因中的局部脑μ阿片受体 滥用11 C-卡芬太尼和PET的人。假设：CO2使用是 与大脑奖赏区μ阿片受体的增加有关 例如杏仁核、扣带皮层和纹状体。拟议研究 该设计利用PET的非侵入性性质来比较μ阿片类药物 可卡因成瘾者在慢性滥用和戒断期间的受体， 以及将PET数据与客观和主观测量相关联， 可卡因滥用 这一建议的医学意义有三个方面： 进一步了解可卡因强化的机制， 个体化药物治疗，并有助于可卡因预后 瘾君子

The long-term goal of this study is to elucidate the role of mu opiate receptors in cocaine addiction using positron emission tomography (PET). Efforts to understand the reinforcement mechanisms of cocaine have recently focused on the role of endogenous opioids and opiate receptors. There is compelling experimental animal data demonstrating that cocaine affects the opiate system; these results are being successfully applied to the treatment of cocaine addicts using the partial opioid agonist, buprenorphine. PET provides, for the first time, the opportunity to measure mu-opiate receptors in human cocaine addicts by the use of the mu- selective ligand, 11C-carfentanil. Preliminary results from this laboratory are promising: mu-opiate receptors in several brain regions are significantly increased in cocaine abusers. Thus, the specific aim of this proposal is: To measure regional brain mu opiate receptors in cocaine abusers using 11C-carfentanil and PET. Hypothesis: Cocaine use is associated with increases in mu opiate receptors in brain reward regions such as amygdala, cingulate cortex and striatum. The proposed research design utilizes the noninvasive nature of PET to compare mu opiate receptors in cocaine addicts during chronic abuse and during abstinence, as well as correlates PET data with objective and subjective measures of cocaine abuse. The medical significance of this proposal is threefold: to further understanding of the mechanisms of cocaine reinforcement, to individualize pharmacotherapy, and to contribute to prognosis for cocaine addicts.