Context β2*-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (β2*-nAChR) availability is higher in recently abstinent smokers compared to never smokers. Variations in β2*-nAChR availability over the course of abstinence may be related to the urge to smoke, the extent of nicotine withdrawal and successful abstinence. Objective To examine changes in β2*-nAChR availability during acute and prolonged abstinence from tobacco smoking and to determine how changes in β2*-nAChR availability were related to clinical features of tobacco smoking. Design Tobacco smokers participated in up to 4 [123I]5-IA-85380 ([123I]5-IA) single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scans during abstinence: 1 day (n=7), 1 week (n=17), 2 weeks (n=7), 4 weeks (n=11), and 6-12 weeks (n=6). Age-matched nonsmokers participated in 1 [123I]5-IA SPECT scan. All subjects completed 1 magnetic resonance imaging study. Setting Academic imaging center. Participants Tobacco smokers (n=19) and an age-matched nonsmoker comparison group (n=20). Main Outcome Measure [123I]5-IA SPECT images were converted to distribution volume and were analyzed using regions of interest. Results Compared to nonsmokers, β2*-nAChR availability in the striatum, cortex and cerebellum of smokers was not different at one day of abstinence, significantly higher at 1week of abstinence and not different at 4 or 6-12 weeks of abstinence. In smokers, at 6-12 weeks of abstinence, β2*-nAChR availability was significantly lower in the cortex and cerebellum compared to 1 week of abstinence. Additionally, cerebellar β2*-nAChR availability at 4 weeks of abstinence was positively correlated with craving on the day of scan. Conclusions These data suggest higher β2*-nAChR availability persists up to 1 month of abstinence, and normalizes to nonsmoker levels by 6-12 weeks of abstinence from tobacco smoking. These marked and persistent changes in β2*-nAChR availability may contribute to difficulties with tobacco cessation.

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Inhalant abuse is a world-wide public health concern among adolescents. Most preclinical studies have assessed inhalant effects in adult animals leaving unclear how behavioral effects differ in younger animals. We exposed adolescent (postnatal day [PN] 28) and adult (PN90) male rats to toluene using 1 of 3 exposure patterns. These patterns modeled those reported in toluene abuse in teens and varied concentration, number and length of exposures, as well as the inter-exposure interval. Animals were exposed repeatedly over 12 days to toluene concentrations of 0, 8,000 or 16,000 parts per million (ppm). Locomotor activity was quantified during toluene exposures and for 30 min following completion of the final daily toluene exposure. For each exposure pattern, there were significant toluene concentration-related increases and decreases in locomotor activity compared to the 0-ppm "air" controls at both ages. These changes depended upon when activity was measuredduring or following exposure. Compared to adults, adolescents displayed greater locomotor activity on the first day and generally greater increases in activity over days than adults during toluene exposure. Adults displayed greater locomotor activity than adolescents in the "recovery" period following exposure on the first and subsequent days. Age group differences were clearest following the pattern of paced, brief (5-min) repeated binge exposures. The results suggest that locomotor behavior in rats during and following inhalation of high concentrations of toluene depends on age and the pattern of exposure. The results are consistent with dose-dependent shifts in sensitivity and sensitization or tolerance to repeated toluene in the adolescent animals compared to the adult animals. Alternate interpretations are possible and our interpretation is limited by the range of very high concentrations of toluene used. The results imply that both pharmacological and psychosocial factors contribute to the teen prevalence of inhalant abuse.

5-123I-iodo-85380 (123I-5-IA) is used to quantitate high-affinity nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (β2-nAChRs) on human SPECT scans. The primary outcome measure is VT/fP, the ratio at equilibrium between total tissue concentration (free, nonspecifically bound, and specifically bound) and the free plasma concentration. Nondisplaceable uptake (free plus nonspecific) of 123I-5-IA has not been measured in human subjects. Nicotine has high affinity for β2*-nAChRs (nAChRs containing the β2* subunit, for which * represents other subunits that may also be part of the receptor) and displaces specifically bound 123I-5-IA. In this study, we measured nicotine occupancy and nondisplaceable binding in healthy smokers after they had smoked to satiety. Methods Eleven nicotine-dependent smokers (mean age ± SD, 35.6 ± 14.4 y) completed the study. One subject was excluded from subsequent analyses because of abnormal blood nicotine levels. Subjects abstained from tobacco smoke for 5.3 ± 0.9 d and participated in a 15- to 17-h SPECT scanning day. 123I-5-IA was administered by bolus plus constant infusion, with a total injected dose of 361 ± 20 MBq. At approximately 6 h after the start of the infusion, three 30-min SPECT scans and a 15-min transmission–emission scan were acquired to obtain baseline β2*-nAChR availability. Subjects then smoked to satiety (2.4 ± 0.7 cigarettes), and arterial (first 40 min) and venous (until study completion) plasma nicotine and cotinine levels were collected. About 1 h after subjects had smoked to satiety, up to six 30-min SPECT scans were acquired. VT/fP data, computed from the tissue and plasma radioactivity measurements from the presmoking baseline and postsmoking scans, were analyzed using the Lassen plot method. Results Receptor occupancy after subjects had smoked to satiety was 67% ± 9% (range, 55%–80%). Nondisplaceable uptake was estimated as 19.4 ± 5.8 mL·cm−3 (range, 15–28 mL·cm−3). Thus, in the thalamus, where mean VT/fP is 93 mL·cm−3, nondisplaceable binding represents approximately 20% of the total binding. Conclusion These results are in agreement with previous findings and suggest that when satiating doses of nicotine are administered to smokers, imaging of receptor availability can yield valuable data, such as quantifiable measures of nondisplaceable binding.