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. 2012 Oct 15;63(1):40-6.
doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2012.06.067. Epub 2012 Jul 6.

Striatal dopamine D₂/D₃ receptor binding in pathological gambling is correlated with mood-related impulsivity

Luke Clark  1 , Paul R Stokes, Kit Wu, Rosanna Michalczuk, Aaf Benecke, Ben J Watson, Alice Egerton, Paola Piccini, David J Nutt, Henrietta Bowden-Jones, Anne R Lingford-Hughes
Affiliations

Striatal dopamine D₂/D₃ receptor binding in pathological gambling is correlated with mood-related impulsivity

Luke Clark et al. Neuroimage. .

Abstract

Pathological gambling (PG) is a behavioural addiction associated with elevated impulsivity and suspected dopamine dysregulation. Reduced striatal dopamine D(2)/D(3) receptor availability has been reported in drug addiction, and may constitute a premorbid vulnerability marker for addictive disorders. The aim of the present study was to assess striatal dopamine D(2)/D(3) receptor availability in PG, and its association with trait impulsivity. Males with PG (n=9) and male healthy controls (n=9) underwent [11C]-raclopride positron emission tomography imaging and completed the UPPS-P impulsivity scale. There was no significant difference between groups in striatal dopamine D(2)/D(3) receptor availability, in contrast to previous reports in drug addiction. However, mood-related impulsivity ('Urgency') was negatively correlated with [11C]-raclopride binding potentials in the PG group. The absence of a group difference in striatal dopamine binding implies a distinction between behavioural addictions and drug addictions. Nevertheless, our data indicate heterogeneity in dopamine receptor availability in disordered gambling, such that individuals with high mood-related impulsivity may show differential benefits from dopamine-based medications.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
[11C]-raclopride binding potentials (BPND) for the overall striatum region of interest (bilateral) and limbic subdivision, for individual cases with Pathological Gambling and healthy controls.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Correlations in Pathological Gamblers between [11C]-raclopride BPND in overall striatum and UPPS-P Negative Urgency (A) and Positive Urgency (B). C: Quadratic relationship between [11C]-raclopride BPND in limbic striatum and Negative Urgency in the pooled group of pathological gamblers (filled circles) and healthy controls (open circles).
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Results of voxelwise regression of [11C]-raclopride BPND in the Pathological Gamblers, showing negative association with Negative Urgency (A) (y = +15, z = − 5) and Positive Urgency (B) (y = +15, z = − 5).
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