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SPECT Study of the Nigrostriatal Dopaminergic System in Huntington's Disease
Author(s) -
Hwang WenJuh,
Yao WeiJen
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of neuroimaging
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.822
H-Index - 64
eISSN - 1552-6569
pISSN - 1051-2284
DOI - 10.1111/j.1552-6569.2011.00671.x
Subject(s) - striatum , dopaminergic , substantia nigra , dopamine transporter , dopamine receptor d2 , medicine , neuroscience , dopamine , spect imaging , dopamine receptor , basal ganglia , endocrinology , nuclear medicine , psychology , central nervous system
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The pathological process of Huntington's disease (HD) preferentially targets spiny neurons in the striatum, with later involvement of the substantia nigra and other structures. The purpose of this study is to investigate the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system in a genetically confirmed HD family. METHODS We used single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with the radiotracers [ 99m Tc]TRODAT‐1 and [ 123 I]IBZM to study the binding potentials of dopamine transporter (DAT) and dopamine D2 receptors in the striatum of 3 symptomatic HD patients, 1 mutation‐negative member of the HD family, and 7 healthy controls. Specific binding potentials were calculated as (striatum‐occipital lobe)/occipital lobe. RESULTS Reduced binding potential of striatal dopamine D2 receptors was found in the 3 symptomatic HD patients. The DAT binding potential was reduced in 1 symptomatic HD patient. We also found that the more severe the clinical status, the lower the DAT and D2 receptor binding potentials, and the larger the bicaudate ratio. CONCLUSIONS We showed that the postsynaptic part of the nigrostriatal pathway was involved. The presynaptic part is usually not affected but could occur in very advanced cases. Our findings suggest that SPECT imaging of D2 receptors is useful for diagnosing and monitoring HD.