Delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol induces dopamine release in the human striatum

Bossong, Matthijs G.; Berckel, Bart N.M. van; Boellaard, Ronald; Zuurman, Lineke; Schuit, Robert C.; Windhorst, Albert D.; Gerven, Joop M. A. van; Ramsey, N.F.; Lammertsma, Adriaan A.; Kahn, René S.

doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2008.04.231

Cited by 91 publications

(123 citation statements)

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“…First, while abstinence from cannabis was not an inclusion criteria, out of 13 scanned subjects, 5 subjects have used cannabis in the 8 h before the SMCT or MIST scan. Although this acute use could conceivably affect the stress-response reported here, previous studies have shown, at best, a modest effect of acute cannabinoid administration on DA release (Bossong et al, 2009;Stokes et al, 2012). When those five subjects are excluded from the analysis, the main finding, that is the lack of a difference between CU and HV on the stress-induced DA release, remains unchanged (except for the loss of significance in the GP displacement; Table 3).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 57%

Dopamine Response to Psychosocial Stress in Chronic Cannabis Users: A PET Study With [11C]-(+)-PHNO

Mizrahi

Suridjan

Kenk

et al. 2012

Neuropsychopharmacol

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A number of addictions have been linked with decreased striatal dopamine (DA) receptor availability and DA release. Stress has a key role in cannabis craving, as well as in modulation of dopaminergic signaling. The present study aimed to assess DA release in response to a laboratory stress task with [ 11 C]-( þ )-PHNO positron emission tomography in cannabis users (CU). Thirteen healthy CU and 12 healthy volunteers (HV) were scanned during a sensorimotor control task (SMCT) and under a stress condition using the validated Montreal imaging stress task (MIST). The simplified reference tissue model (SRTM) was used to obtain binding potential (BP ND ) in striatal subdivisions: limbic striatum (LST), associative striatum (AST), and sensorimotor striatum (SMST). Stress-induced DA release (indexed as a percentage of reduction in , with no effect in any other brain region. In conclusion, despite an increase in striatal BP ND observed during the control task, chronic cannabis use is not associated with alterations in stress-induced DA release.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 57%

Dopamine Response to Psychosocial Stress in Chronic Cannabis Users: A PET Study With [11C]-(+)-PHNO

Mizrahi

Suridjan

Kenk

et al. 2012

Neuropsychopharmacol

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“…11 C]raclopride-PET (Bossong et al 2009). All but the Volkow et al study (1996) were controlled with placebo ( Table 1).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, the severity of paranoid symptoms following intravenous THC administration was correlated with the plasma level of THC (Volkow et al 1996). Finally, Bossong et al 2009 studied the effects of THC inhalation on […”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neuroimaging in cannabis use: a systematic review of the literature

et al. 2009

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Background. We conducted a systematic review to assess the evidence for specific effects of cannabis on brain structure and function. The review focuses on the cognitive changes associated with acute and chronic use of the drug.Method. We reviewed literature reporting neuroimaging studies of chronic or acute cannabis use published up until January 2009. The search was conducted using Medline, EMBASE, LILACS and PsycLIT indexing services using the following key words : cannabis, marijuana, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, THC, cannabidiol, CBD, neuroimaging, brain imaging, computerized tomography, CT, magnetic resonance, MRI, single photon emission tomography, SPECT, functional magnetic resonance, fMRI, positron emission tomography, PET, diffusion tensor MRI, DTI-MRI, MRS and spectroscopy.Results. Sixty-six studies were identified, of which 41 met the inclusion criteria. Thirty-three were functional (SPECT/PET/fMRI) and eight structural (volumetric/DTI) imaging studies. The high degree of heterogeneity across studies precluded a meta-analysis. The functional studies suggest that resting global and prefrontal blood flow are lower in cannabis users than in controls. The results from the activation studies using a cognitive task are inconsistent because of the heterogeneity of the methods used. Studies of acute administration of THC or marijuana report increased resting activity and activation of the frontal and anterior cingulate cortex during cognitive tasks. Only three of the structural imaging studies found differences between users and controls.Conclusions. Functional neuroimaging studies suggest a modulation of global and prefrontal metabolism both during the resting state and after the administration of THC/marijuana cigarettes. Minimal evidence of major effects of cannabis on brain structure has been reported.

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“…Indeed, in humans, imaging studies have shown that drugs of abuse increase DA release in striatum (including the nucleus accumbens), and these increases have been associated with the subjective experience of reward (7)(8)(9). However, for marijuana, the results have been inconsistent: One study reported striatal DA increases during intoxication (10); two studies showed no effects (11,12); and one study reported DA increases in individuals with a psychotic disorder and in their relatives, but not in controls (13). Imaging studies of the brain DA system in marijuana abusers have also shown different findings from those reported for other types of substance abusers.…”

mentioning

confidence: 96%

Decreased dopamine brain reactivity in marijuana abusers is associated with negative emotionality and addiction severity

Volkow

Wang

Telang

et al. 2014

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Moves to legalize marijuana highlight the urgency to investigate effects of chronic marijuana in the human brain. Here, we challenged 48 participants (24 controls and 24 marijuana abusers) with methylphenidate (MP), a drug that elevates extracellular dopamine (DA) as a surrogate for probing the reactivity of the brain to DA stimulation. We compared the subjective, cardiovascular, and brain DA responses (measured with PET and [ 11 C]raclopride) to MP between controls and marijuana abusers. Although baseline (placebo) measures of striatal DA D2 receptor availability did not differ between groups, the marijuana abusers showed markedly blunted responses when challenged with MP. Specifically, compared with controls, marijuana abusers had significantly attenuated behavioral ("self-reports" for high, drug effects, anxiety, and restlessness), cardiovascular (pulse rate and diastolic blood pressure), and brain DA [reduced decreases in distribution volumes (DVs) of [ 11 C]raclopride, although normal reductions in striatal nondisplaceable binding potential (BP ND )] responses to MP. In ventral striatum (key brain reward region), MP-induced reductions in DVs and BP ND (reflecting DA increases) were inversely correlated with scores of negative emotionality, which were significantly higher for marijuana abusers than controls. In marijuana abusers, DA responses in ventral striatum were also inversely correlated with addiction severity and craving. The attenuated responses to MP, including reduced decreases in striatal DVs, are consistent with decreased brain reactivity to the DA stimulation in marijuana abusers that might contribute to their negative emotionality (increased stress reactivity and irritability) and addictive behaviors.nucleus accumbens | amotivation | cannabinoid 1 receptors | brain imaging | midbrain D espite the high prevalence of marijuana consumption, the effects of marijuana abuse in the human brain are not well understood. Marijuana, like other drugs of abuse, stimulates brain dopamine (DA) signaling in the nucleus accumbens (1, 2), which is a mechanism believed to underlie the rewarding effects of drugs (3-5) and to trigger the neuroadaptations that result in addiction (reviewed in ref. 6). Indeed, in humans, imaging studies have shown that drugs of abuse increase DA release in striatum (including the nucleus accumbens), and these increases have been associated with the subjective experience of reward (7-9). However, for marijuana, the results have been inconsistent: One study reported striatal DA increases during intoxication (10); two studies showed no effects (11, 12); and one study reported DA increases in individuals with a psychotic disorder and in their relatives, but not in controls (13). Imaging studies of the brain DA system in marijuana abusers have also shown different findings from those reported for other types of substance abusers. Specifically, substance abusers (cocaine, methamphetamine, alcohol, heroin, and nicotine), but not marijuana abusers (14-16), show reduced baseline availability ...

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Delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol induces dopamine release in the human striatum

Cited by 91 publications

References 4 publications

Dopamine Response to Psychosocial Stress in Chronic Cannabis Users: A PET Study With [11C]-(+)-PHNO

Dopamine Response to Psychosocial Stress in Chronic Cannabis Users: A PET Study With [11C]-(+)-PHNO

Neuroimaging in cannabis use: a systematic review of the literature

Decreased dopamine brain reactivity in marijuana abusers is associated with negative emotionality and addiction severity

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