SLC6A3 gene polymorphisms are associated with striatal dopamine transporter changes after glucose loading

Abstract

We investigated the association between SLC6A3 gene polymorphisms and changes in dopamine transporter (DAT) availability after glucose loading in humans. An intravenous injection of 18F‐FP‐CIT was administered after infusion of glucose or placebo, and the emission data were acquired over 90 min in 38 healthy male participants. DAT availability expressed in terms of binding potential (BPND) was recorded. The 40‐bp variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) in the 3′ untranslated region and two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), rs2652511 and rs2937639, in the SLC6A3 gene were genotyped. Among the 38 participants, those with a VNTR other than 10R/10R (n = 7) were excluded. The alleles of the two SNPs (rs2652511 and rs2937639) appeared to be inherited together in two fixed combinations (C–G or T–A) in 29 of 31 individuals. The BPND in the ventral striatum (VST), caudate nucleus, and putamen was not significantly different after glucose or placebo loading according to genotype. However, BPNDs from the caudate nucleus and putamen of all participants with rs2652511 CT/rs2937639 AG (n = 6) were higher after glucose loading. In conclusion, the SLC6A3 gene polymorphism is associated with the changes in DAT availability after glucose loading. DAT availability after glucose or placebo loading in the VST, caudate nucleus, and putamen did not differ according to the SLC6A3 genotype.