History of cannabis use is not associated with alterations in striatal dopamine D 2 /D 3 receptor availability
Paul R A Stokes, Alice Egerton, Ben Watson, Alistair Reid, Julia Lappin, Oliver Howes, David Nutt, Anne Lingford‐hughes
Journal of Psychopharmacology September 2, 2011 DOI: 10.1177/0269881111414090 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case-control study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 20 |
| Population | Volunteers with a history of cannabis use and control volunteers |
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Keywords | Raclopride Dopaminergic Striatum Psychosis Dopamine receptor d2 Stimulant |
| Citations | 62 |
| Key findings | No significant differences in striatal dopamine D2/D3 receptor availability were found between cannabis users and controls. |
Abstract
Cannabis use in adolescence is emerging as a risk factor for the development of psychosis. In animal studies, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive component of cannabis, modulates striatal dopaminergic neurotransmission. Alterations in human striatal dopaminergic function have also been reported both in psychosis and in stimulant use. We sought to examine whether striatal dopamine D(2)/D(3) receptor availability was altered in volunteers with a history of cannabis use using a database of previously acquired [(11)C]-raclopride positron emission tomography (PET) scans. Ten [(11)C]-raclopride scans from volunteers with a history of cannabis use were compared to ten control scans using a functional striatal subdivision region of interest (ROI) analysis. No significant differences in either overall striatal BP(ND) values or BP(ND) values in any functional striatal subdivision were found between the two groups. There was also no correlation between lifetime frequency of cannabis use and BP(ND) values. Limbic striatal BP(ND) values were ten percent lower in current nicotine cigarette smokers. These findings suggest that, unlike other drugs of abuse, a history of cannabis use is not associated with alterations in striatal dopamine D(2)/D(3) receptor availability.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on cannabis, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| High-potency cannabis and the risk of psychosis People with first episode of psychosis and healthy controls from the local population | 2009 | Case-control study | n = 454 |
| Ayahuasca-Assisted Therapy for Addiction: Results from a Preliminary Observational Study in Canada Rural aboriginal population | 2013 | Observational study | |
| Impaired cognitive performance in drug free users of recreational ecstasy (MDMA) Otherwise healthy young people | 2000 | Observational | |
| Continued cannabis use and risk of incidence and persistence of psychotic symptoms: 10 year follow-up cohort study Individuals from the general population in Germany aged 14-24 at baseline | 2011 | Observational cohort | n = 1,923 |
| Cannabis-induced psychosis and subsequent schizophrenia-spectrum disorders: follow-up study of 535 incident cases Patients treated for cannabis-induced psychotic symptoms in Denmark between 1994 and... | 2005 | Observational cohort | n = 535 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 8
- Cannabinoids and Vanilloids in Schizophrenia: Neurophysiological Evidence and Directions for Basic Research Frontiers in Pharmacology June 21, 2017
- Associations between regular cannabis use and brain resting-state functional connectivity in adolescents and adults Journal of Psychopharmacology July 29, 2023
- Systematic review and rationale of using psychedelics in the treatment of cannabis use disorder. Frontiers in Psychiatry 2023
- A brain imaging study of dopamine receptor D2 availability in cannabis dependent users after recovery from cannabis-induced psychosis Frontiers in Psychiatry October 27, 2023
- Chronic Δ9-THC in Rhesus Monkeys: Effects on Cognitive Performance and Dopamine D2/D3 Receptor Availability. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics February 2018
and 3 more in the library
Cites 7
- Significant decreases in frontal and temporal [11C]-raclopride binding after THC challenge. Neuroimage May 6, 2010
- Delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol induces dopamine release in the human striatum. Neuropsychopharmacology February 2009
- Inhibition of striatal dopamine release by CB1 receptor activation requires nonsynaptic communication involving GABA, H2O2, and KATP channels. Neurochemistry International January 2008
- Cannabis-Induced Psychosis-Like Experiences Are Associated with High Schizotypy Psychopathology 2006
- Cannabis use and outcome of recent onset psychosis European Psychiatry June 1, 2005
and 2 more in the library