Single—photon emission computed tomography imaging studies of dopamine transkporter availability in heroin and 3,4—methylenedioxymethamphetamine abusers

摘要

cqvip:The present study observed the levels of dopamine transporter(DATA) in the brains of heroin and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) abusers with single-photon emission computed tomography(SPECT).^99mTc-TRODAT-1 was used as a tracer to evaluate the DAT levels in 17 heroin abosers and 12 MDMA abusers and 8 normal subjects.Counts and pixels were obtained with framing ROI in the human brain,then the data of striatum/whole brain were measured.Results of DAT imaging studies in MDMA abusers and heroin abusers showed a significant reduction of DAT distribution.Both sides of striatum became smaller and morphologically abnormal in these groups.Counts and pixels of DAT in right(R),left(L) and sum of both striatum(R+L) decreased significantly in MDMA abusers and heroin abusers as compared with the normal subjects,while no difference between MDMA group and heroin group was observed.Comparing with the normal group,the count ratios of striatum and total brain were smaller.There might be a relationship between illicit drug-induced pathological damage of brain and functional changes of dopamine reuptake.