Sex differences in [123I]β‐CIT SPECT measures of dopamine and serotonin transporter availability in healthy smokers and nonsmokers

Citations Over TimeTop 10% of 2001 papers

Abstract

Nicotine and other constituents of tobacco smoke elevate dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT) levels in brain and may cause homeostatic adaptations in DA and 5-HT transporters. Since sex steroids alter DA and 5-HT transporter expression, the effects of smoking on DA and 5-HT transporter availability may differ between sexes. In the present study, DA and 5-HT transporter availabilities were quantitated using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging approximately 22 h after bolus administration of [123I]beta-CIT, an analog of cocaine which labels DA and 5-HT transporters. Forty-two subjects including 21 pairs of age-, race-, and gender-matched healthy smokers and nonsmokers (12 female and 9 male pairs) were imaged. Regional uptake was assessed by the outcome measures, V3", which is the ratio of specific (i.e., ROI-cerebellar activity) to nondisplaceable (cerebellar) activity, and V3, the ratio of specific to free plasma parent. Overall, striatal and diencephalic [123I]beta-CIT uptake was not altered by smoking, whereas brainstem [123I]beta-CIT uptake was modestly higher (10%) in smokers vs. nonsmokers. When subgrouped by sex, regardless of smoking status, [123I]beta-CIT uptake was higher in the striatum (10%), diencephalon (15%), and brainstem (15%) in females vs. males. The sex*smoking interaction was not significant in the striatum, diencephalon, or brainstem, despite the observation of 20% higher brainstem [123I]beta-CIT uptake in male smokers vs. nonsmokers and less than a 5% difference between female smokers and nonsmokers. The results demonstrate higher DA and 5-HT transporter availability in females vs. males and no overall effect of smoking with the exception of a modest elevation in brainstem 5-HT transporters in male smokers. Although these findings are preliminary and need validation with a more selective 5-HT transporter radiotracer, the results suggest that brainstem 5-HT transporters may be regulated by smoking in a sex-specific manner.

Related Papers

• → Prediction of Dopamine Transporter Binding Availability by Genotype: A Preliminary Report(2000)276 cited
• → The vesicular monoamine transporter is not regulated by dopaminergic drug treatments(1995)206 cited
• → Mice with Very Low Expression of the Vesicular Monoamine Transporter 2 Gene Survive into Adulthood: Potential Mouse Model for Parkinsonism(2001)123 cited
• → Reduced striatal vesicular monoamine transporters after neurotoxic but not after behaviorally-sensitizing doses of methamphetamine(1997)104 cited
• [Involvement of vesicular monoamine transporter in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder].(2011)