Exploration of dopamine transporter and D2 receptors in morphine dependent rats through 125I-β-CTT, 125I-IBZM cerebral autoradiography and the biodistribution study

Objective: To explore the variation of cerebral dopamine (DA) transmitting system in morphine dependent (MD) rats using dopamine transporter (DAT) and D2 receptors imaging agent. Methods: MD model rats were established by using a two-compartment (C1 and C2-morphine conditioned compartment) apparatus for assessing morphine conditioned place preferences in rats. 125I-2β-carbomethoxy-3β-(4-iodophenyl) tropane (125I-β-CIT) and 125I-3-iodo-2-hydroxy-6-methoxy-N[(1-ethyl-2-pyrrolidinyl) methyl] benzamide (125I-IBZM) cerebral DAT and D2 receptor autoradiography and biodistribution study were used to evaluate the variation of DAT and D2 receptors in morphine dependent rats. Results: The mean time of MD rats entering from C1 to C2 was (0.84 +- 0.50) min after 6 days' conditioned place preference training, shorter than that of the control group [(2.40 +- 1.10) min, P < 0.05]. Autoradiographic analysis showed that 125I-β-CIT uptake ratio of striatum (ST)/cerebellum (CB) and nucleus acumens (NAC)/CB in MD group were 4.76 +- 0.92 and 2.72 +- 0.96, significantly lower than that of control group (5.92 +- 0.67 and 4.16 +- 0.56, P < 0.05); the ST/CB and NAC/CB of 125I-IBZM uptake ratio in MD group were 4.11 +- 0.56 and 2.64 +- 0.25, lower than that in control group (5.43 +- 0.74 and 3.49 +- 0.65, P < 0.05). The 125I-β-CIT, 125I-IBZM biodistribution study also showed that the DAT and D2 binding sites were reduced in ST of MD group by (21.68 +- 11.11)% and (18.69 +- 9.97)% comparing to the controls, respectively. Conclusions: The DAT and D2 receptors in both ST and NAC were all involved and reduced to some extent in morphine dependent model rats, the DAT and D2 receptor imaging agent could reflect the variation of DAT and D2receptors, this would afford the theoretical basis for D2 receptors and DAT imaging in study on preventing drug addiction and on its abstinence