Amphetamine induced endogenous opioid release in the human brain detected with [11C]carfentanil PET: replication in an independent cohort. (7th May 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mick, Inge; Myers, Jim; Stokes, Paul R. A.; Erritzoe, David; Colasanti, Alessandro; Bowden-Jones, Henrietta; Clark, Luke; Gunn, Roger N.; Rabiner, Eugenii A.; Searle, Graham E.; Waldman, Adam D.; Parkin, Mark C.; Brailsford, Alan D.; Nutt, David J.; Lingford-Hughes, Anne R.
• Is Part Of: International journal of neuropsychopharmacology. Volume 17:Number 12(2014)
• Page Start: 2069
• Page End: 2074
• Publication Date: 2014-05-07
• Subjects: Amphetamine, -- [11C]carfentanil, -- opioid system, -- PET; Neuropsychopharmacology -- Periodicals; Neuropharmacology -- Periodicals; Psychopharmacology -- Periodicals; 615.78
• DOI: 10.1017/S1461145714000704
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1461-1457

Abstract

Abstract: This study aimed to replicate a previous study which showed that endogenous opioid release, following an oral dose of amphetamine, can be detected in the living human brain using [ 11 C]carfentanil positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. Nine healthy volunteers underwent two [ 11 C]carfentanil PET scans, one before and one 3 h following oral amphetamine administration (0.5 mg/kg). Regional changes in [ 11 C]carfentanil BPND from pre- to post-amphetamine were assessed. The amphetamine challenge led to significant reductions in [ 11 C]carfentanil BPND in the putamen, thalamus, frontal lobe, nucleus accumbens, anterior cingulate, cerebellum and insula cortices, replicating our earlier findings. None of the participants experienced significant euphoria/'high', supporting the use of oral amphetamine to characterize in vivo endogenous opioid release following a pharmacological challenge. [ 11 C]carfentanil PET is able to detect changes in binding following an oral amphetamine challenge that reflects endogenous opioid release and is suitable to characterize the opioid system in neuropsychiatric disorders.