Brain dopaminergic system changes in drug addiction: a review of positron emission tomography findings.

Abstract

Dopamine (DA) is considered crucial for the rewarding effects of drugs of abuse, but its role in addiction remains unclear. Positron emission tomography (PET) is the first technology used for in vivo measurement of components of the dopaminergic system in the human brain. In this article, we review the major findings from PET imaging studies on the involvement of DA in drug addiction, including presynaptic DA synthesis, vesicular monoamine transporter 2, the DA transporter, and postsynaptic DA receptors. These results have corroborated the role of DA in addiction and increased the understanding of its underlying mechanisms.

• Authors: Haifeng Hou, Chunyan Wang, Shaowei Jia, Shu Hu, Mei Tian
• Journal: Neuroscience bulletin (Neurosci Bull) Vol. 30 Issue 5 Pg. 765-76 (Oct 2014) ISSN: 1995-8218 [Electronic] Singapore
• PMID: 25260796 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)

Chemical References

• Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
• Vesicular Monoamine Transport Proteins
• Dopamine

Topics

• Animals
• Brain (diagnostic imaging, metabolism)
• Dopamine (biosynthesis, metabolism)
• Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins (metabolism)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Positron-Emission Tomography
• Substance-Related Disorders (diagnostic imaging, metabolism)
• Vesicular Monoamine Transport Proteins (metabolism)