A Brain Imaging Study Into Nicotine Induced Dopamine Release in Cigarette Smokers.

Overview

Dopamine (DA) plays a critical role in nicotine (and other) addiction and this drug is known to release DA in brain areas mediating reward and motivational processes. Although imaging studies show that release of DA follows smoking, little is known regarding how common genetic polymorphisms for three genes associated in some studies with smoking (dopamine D2 receptor, dopamine and serotonin transporter) interact with smoking status and modulate individual differences in nicotine-induced DA release and dopamine receptor occupancy, in vivo. The current proposal combines brain imaging and genomics ('imaging genomics') towards partially unraveling the complex relationship between smoking phenotype and common polymorphisms. Understanding whether genetic factors contribute to inter-individual variability in smoking is crucial for interpreting imaging results in the context of disease pathology. We hypothesize that a model of vulnerability to addiction based on interactions between genotype, receptor and transporter availability and in vivo nicotine-induced DA release will elucidate some of the fundamental neurochemical and neurogenetic circuits underlying addiction.

Dopamine plays a critical role in nicotine(and other) addiction and this drug is known to release DA in brain areas mediating reward and motivational processes. Although imaging studies show that release of DA follows smoking, little is known regarding how common some genetic polymorphisms proposed to play a role in nicotine dependence (e.g. DRD2, DAT and the serotonin transporter or SERT) interact with smoking status (non-smoker, ex-smoker, light smoker, present smoker) and modulate individual differences in nicotine-induced DA release and dopamine receptor occupancy, in vivo. Individual differences in dopaminergic tone could result in an under-stimulation of reward circuits which could put subjects at greater risk for seeking drug stimulation (that releases DA) as a means to compensate for this deficit and to temporarily activate these reward circuits. The current proposal combines brain imaging and genomics towards unraveling the complex relationship between smoking phenotype and common polymorphisms. Understanding whether genetic factors contribute to inter-individual variability is crucial for interpreting imaging results in the context of disease pathology. Nicotine dependence is a complex process including initiation of smoking, persistence and difficulty in quitting. By comparing receptor occupancy, nicotine-induced DA release, and common genetic polymorphisms across smoking behaviors we will better understand the complex interactions between genetic makeup, personality and the several stages of nicotine addiction.