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PET imaging predicts future body weight and cocaine preference

Journal Article · · Neuroimage
OSTI ID:1041614

Deficits in dopamine D2/D3 receptor (D2R/D3R) binding availability using PET imaging have been reported in obese humans and rodents. Similar deficits have been reported in cocaine-addicts and cocaine-exposed primates. We found that D2R/D3R binding availability negatively correlated with measures of body weight at the time of scan (ventral striatum), at 1 (ventral striatum) and 2 months (dorsal and ventral striatum) post scan in rats. Cocaine preference was negatively correlated with D2R/D3R binding availability 2 months (ventral striatum) post scan. Our findings suggest that inherent deficits in striatal D2R/D3R signaling are related to obesity and drug addiction susceptibility and that ventral and dorsal striatum serve dissociable roles in maintaining weight gain and cocaine preference. Measuring D2R/D3R binding availability provides a way for assessing susceptibility to weight gain and cocaine abuse in rodents and given the translational nature of PET imaging, potentially primates and humans.

Research Organization:
BROOKHAVEN NATIONAL LABORATORY (BNL)
Sponsoring Organization:
NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON ALCOHOL ABUSE & ALCOHOLISM (NIAAA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-98CH10886
OSTI ID:
1041614
Report Number(s):
BNL--96871-2012-JA; KP1602010
Journal Information:
Neuroimage, Journal Name: Neuroimage Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 59; ISSN 1053-8119
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English