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Fentanyl decreases β‐CIT binding to the dopamine transporter
Author(s) -
Bergström Kim A.,
Jolkkonen Jukka,
Kuikka Jyrki T.,
Åkerman Kari K.,
Viinamäki Heimo,
Airaksinen Olavi,
Länsimies Esko,
Tiihonen Jari
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
synapse
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.809
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1098-2396
pISSN - 0887-4476
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1098-2396(199808)29:4<413::aid-syn13>3.0.co;2-r
Subject(s) - fentanyl , dopamine transporter , dopamine , medicine , basal ganglia , basal (medicine) , anesthesia , striatum , brainstem , pharmacology , opioid , dopamine plasma membrane transport proteins , endocrinology , central nervous system , receptor , dopaminergic , insulin
Evidence from animal studies suggest that centrally acting opiates increase synaptic dopamine (DA) concentration. However, the interaction between μ‐opioid receptors and the DA system is unclear. We report here an effect of fentanyl on striatal [ 123 I]β‐CIT binding to the DA transporter in a patient and in rats. A female patient underwent [ 123 I]β‐CIT single‐photon emission tomography (SPET) study after intrathecal injection of fentanyl for her back pain. After a 2‐week drug‐free period, the SPET study was repeated. In the experimental study, male Wistar rats were treated with fentanyl either acutely (50 μg/kg, i.p.) before imaging study or subacutely for 4 days (10 μg/kg, twice a day, i.p.). Brain planar imaging was performed at 3.5 hours after an intravenous injection of [ 123 I]β‐CIT with gamma camera with a pinhole collimator. In a female patient, [ 123 I]β‐CIT binding in the basal ganglia was decreased by 37% during fentanyl as compared to the binding after 2‐week drug‐free period. Similarly in rats, acute fentanyl treatment decreased [ 123 I]β‐CIT binding to the striatum by 30% as compared to that of with the control rats. After subacute administration of fentanyl, no significant difference was observed compared to the control group. According to the present data, fentanyl decreases [ 123 I]β‐CIT binding in the basal ganglia both in human and rats, suggesting that opiates possibly directly affect DA reuptake. Synapse 29:413–415, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.