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BRIEF REPORT: Varenicline increases striatal dopamine D 2/3 receptor binding in rats
Author(s) -
Crunelle Cleo L.,
Miller Michelle L.,
De Bruin Kora,
Van Den Brink Wim,
Booij Jan
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
addiction biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.445
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1369-1600
pISSN - 1355-6215
DOI - 10.1111/j.1369-1600.2009.00168.x
Subject(s) - varenicline , dopamine , pharmacology , addiction , partial agonist , agonist , striatum , nicotine , nicotinic agonist , dopamine uptake inhibitors , chemistry , medicine , nucleus accumbens , psychology , neuroscience , receptor
Increasing dopamine D 2/3 receptor availability is postulated to be a treatment for drug addiction. Varenicline, an α4β2‐nicotinic partial agonist, is effective for nicotine dependence. We hypothesize that varenicline increases dopamine D 2/3 receptor availability. Twenty male drug‐naïve rats were randomized to varenicline (2 mg/kg) or placebo for 14 days, and then injected with the dopamine D 2/3 radiotracer 123 I‐IBZM. We found significantly higher striatum‐to‐cerebellum binding ratios in both dorsal and ventral striatum for the varenicline group compared with placebo. Varenicline increases dopamine D 2/3 receptor availability in drug‐naïve rats. Therefore, varenicline may be an effective treatment for addictions other than smoking.