Journal article
Pattern of regional cerebral blood-flow changes induced by acute heroin administration--a perfusion MRI study.
- Guyer S Psychiatric Neuroimaging Group, Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland.
- Kosel M
- Altrichter S
- El-Koussy M
- Haemmig R
- Fisch HU
- Lovblad KO
- Schlaepfer TE
- 2007-11-21
Published in:
- Journal of neuroradiology = Journal de neuroradiologie. - 2007
Adult
Cerebrovascular Circulation
Cross-Over Studies
Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Double-Blind Method
Heroin
Heroin Dependence
Humans
Injections, Intravenous
Male
Narcotics
English
PURPOSE
Although both the subjective and physiological effects of abused psychotropic substances have been characterized, less is known about their effects on brain function. We examined the actions of intravenous diacetylmorphine (heroin), the most widely abused opioid, on regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF), as assessed by perfusion-weighted MR imaging (PWI) in a double-blind and placebo-controlled setting.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Eight male subjects dependent of diacetylmorphine (mean age 36 years, range: 26 to 44 years), who had participated in a clinical diacetylmorphine maintenance program, underwent PWI with gadolinium injection. At two sessions separated by 2-7 days, the participants were examined 80 s after intravenous administration of either diacetylmorphine or saline. rCBF in four regions of interest (amygdala, vermis of the cerebellum, anterior cingulated cortex and thalamus) was compared with heroin versus placebo.
RESULTS
In the cerebellum, thalamus and cingulated cortex, there were no significant differences in perfusion values between diacetylmorphine and placebo. In the amygdala, perfusion values were 0.8+/-0.4 and 0.5+/-0.2 on the left, and 0.9+/-0.4 and 0.6+/-0.3 on the right, with diacetylmorphine and with placebo, respectively (t-test results were P=0.044 and P=0.033 on the left and right sides, respectively). Other differences in perfusion values between the drug and placebo did not reach statistical significance.
CONCLUSION
Perfusion MRI demonstrated differences in brain hemodynamics induced by drug intake.
Although both the subjective and physiological effects of abused psychotropic substances have been characterized, less is known about their effects on brain function. We examined the actions of intravenous diacetylmorphine (heroin), the most widely abused opioid, on regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF), as assessed by perfusion-weighted MR imaging (PWI) in a double-blind and placebo-controlled setting.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Eight male subjects dependent of diacetylmorphine (mean age 36 years, range: 26 to 44 years), who had participated in a clinical diacetylmorphine maintenance program, underwent PWI with gadolinium injection. At two sessions separated by 2-7 days, the participants were examined 80 s after intravenous administration of either diacetylmorphine or saline. rCBF in four regions of interest (amygdala, vermis of the cerebellum, anterior cingulated cortex and thalamus) was compared with heroin versus placebo.
RESULTS
In the cerebellum, thalamus and cingulated cortex, there were no significant differences in perfusion values between diacetylmorphine and placebo. In the amygdala, perfusion values were 0.8+/-0.4 and 0.5+/-0.2 on the left, and 0.9+/-0.4 and 0.6+/-0.3 on the right, with diacetylmorphine and with placebo, respectively (t-test results were P=0.044 and P=0.033 on the left and right sides, respectively). Other differences in perfusion values between the drug and placebo did not reach statistical significance.
CONCLUSION
Perfusion MRI demonstrated differences in brain hemodynamics induced by drug intake.
- Language
-
- English
- Open access status
- closed
- Identifiers
-
- DOI 10.1016/j.neurad.2007.09.005
- PMID 18022231
- Persistent URL
- https://sonar.ch/global/documents/1266
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