OBJECTIVETo investigate the distribution, changes and a possible role for retinal dopamine transporter (DAT) in experimental myopia in chickens.

METHODSTwo-day-old chickens were divided into four groups. Chicken eyes were fitted with lenses of -10D,-20D and translucent goggles unilaterally. Normal eyes were used as controls. After 3 wk, all chickens were given an intramuscular injection of (125)I-beta-CIT 2beta-carbomethoxy-3beta-(4-iodophenyl)tropane and sacrificed two hours post injection. Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and the neural retina were obtained together or RPE was dissected out from the neural retina. Radioactive DAT from each specimen was assayed by gamma-counter.

RESULTSRetinal DAT was detected in RPE specimens rather than in the neural retina in all eyes. Radioactive DAT in myopic eyes was higher, compared with control eyes.

CONCLUSIONSRetinal DAT is mainly located in the RPE and may be involved in the formation of lens induced myopia (LIM) and form deprivation myopia (FDM). These methods may provide a new approach for further studying the role of the dopamine system in experimental myopia.

Animals ; Chickens ; Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins ; Eye ; growth & development ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; Membrane Transport Proteins ; analysis ; physiology ; Myopia ; metabolism ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; Retina ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Bushen Huoxue Granule (BHG) on dopamine (DA) neurotransmitter and dopamine transporter (DAT) in the brain of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) as an adjunctive therapy.

METHODSNinety-four PD patients were randomly assigned to two groups, 47 in each group. Madopar was given to all as the basic treatment group. The placebo was given to those in the control group while BHG was given to those in the treatment. The therapeutic course for all was three months. Before and after treatment DA levels in the brain of patients were detected by encephalofluctuograph (EFG) technique. Changes of DAT in the striatum of patients in the treatment group were detected by positron emission tomography (PET) and region of interest (ROI) analysis.

RESULTS(1) Before treatment the DA level was lower in the two groups than the normal value, showing significant difference (P < 0.01), but with no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). After treatment the DA level obviously increased in the two groups, showing significant difference from that before treatment (P < 0.01). No significant difference existed in the DA level in the two groups when compared with the normal value (P > 0.05), but with significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). Better results were obtained in the treatment group than in the control group. (2) The DAT radioactive accumulation inside the striatum increased obviously in the treatment group after treatment. ROI analysis showed the total ratio of striatum/cerebellum before and after treatment was 1.86 +/- 0.32 and 2.61 +/- 0.53 respectively, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONBHG could improve the DA level of PD patients, and increasing DAT contents in the striatum, thus playing a role in effectively treating PD.

Aged ; Brain ; metabolism ; Dopamine ; metabolism ; Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Parkinson Disease ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Phytotherapy

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mRNA expression of dopamine receptor D2 (DRD2) and dopamine transporter (DAT) in peripheral blood lymphocytes before and after treatment in children with tic disorder (TD).

METHODSRT-PCR was used to measure the mRNA expression of DRD2 and DAT in peripheral blood lymphocytes before and after treatment in 60 children with TD. The correlations between mRNA expression of DRD2 and DAT and the severity of TD were analyzed. Sixty healthy children served as the control group.

RESULTSBefore treatment, the children with TD had a significant increase in the mRNA expression of DRD2 and DAT compared with the control group (P<0.05). After 3 months of treatment with oral aripiprazole, the mRNA expression of DRD2 decreased significantly (P<0.05), while that of DAT showed no significant changes in children with TD. In the children with moderate or severe TD, the mRNA expression of DRD2 was positively correlated with Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS) score (P<0.05). In the children with moderate TD, the mRNA expression of DAT was positively correlated with YGTSS score (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSIn children with TD, the mRNA expression of DRD2 in peripheral blood lymphocytes can be used as one of the indicators for diagnosing TD, assessing the severity of TD, and evaluating clinical outcomes.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; metabolism ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; blood ; Receptors, Dopamine D2 ; genetics ; Tic Disorders ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; mortality

This study was conducted to evaluate the applicability of 99mTc-2beta-[ N, N'-bis (2-mercaptoethyl) ethylenediamino]methyl,3beta(4-chlorophenyl)tropane(TRODAT-1) dopamine transporter(DAT) SPECT imaging in children with autism, and thus to provide an academic basis for the etiology, mechanism and clinical therapy of autism. Ten autistic children and ten healthy controls were examined with 99mTc-TRODAT-1 DAT SPECT imaging. Striatal specific uptake of 99mTc-TRODAT-1 was calculated with region of interest analysis according to the ratics between striatum and cerebellum [(STR-BKG)/BKG]. There was no statistically significant difference in semiquantitative dopamine transporter between the bilateral striata of autistic children (P=0.562), and between those of normal controls (p=0.573); Dopamine transporter in the brain of patients with autism increased significantly as compared with that in the brain of normal controls (P=0.017). Dopaminergic nervous system is dysfunctioning in the brain of children with autism, and DAT 99mTc-TRODAT-1 SPECT imaging on the brain will help the imaging diagnosis of childhcod autism.
Autistic Disorder ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; Brain ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Organotechnetium Compounds ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon ; Tropanes

OBJECTIVETo probe the mechanism of electro-scalp acupuncture in treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD) by single photon emission computer tomography (SPECT).

METHODSFive cases of PD received electro-scalp acupuncture at Dingnie Qianxiexian (MS 6), Epangxian III (MS 4), Dingpangxian I (MS 8), Dingpangxian II (MS 9) and Zhenxia Pangxian (MS 14). Contralateral points were selected for pathologic change on one side and bilateral points were selected for pathologic lesion on both sides. All the patients received 99mTc-TRODAT-1 SPECT examination before and after acupuncture treatment of 6 weeks. And activities of dopamine transporter (DAT) were analyzed by the ratio of striatum/occipital lobe (ST/OC), which was evaluated by means of technique of regional of interesting (ROI).

RESULTSThe ratio of ST/OC on the same side of the affected extremity before and after treatment were 1.19 +/- 0.15 and 1.24 +/- 0.31 respectively. And on the other side were 0.90 +/- 0.12 and 0.95 +/- 0.25 respectively. They were increased after treatment (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONElectro-scalp acupuncture can decrease the loss of DAT and improve the activities of DAT in the striatum of the patient of PD.

Aged ; Corpus Striatum ; chemistry ; Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins ; analysis ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Parkinson Disease ; metabolism ; therapy ; Scalp ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of dopamine D2 receptors (D2R) and dopamine transportors (DAT) located in the medial prefrontal contex (mPFC) in high and low conditioned place preference (CPP) rats, and to unveil the possible mechanism leading to different CPP susceptibilities. METHODS: One hundred and sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned into an experiment group (n = 130) and a control group (n = 30). The experiment group was re-classified into 2 groups according to CPP values:high preference group (HP group) and low preference group (LP group). According to the execution time-points after the last administration, the HP and LP group was classified into a 3-hour group (3 h), a 72-hour group (J3d), and a 14-day group (J14d), respectively. At 3 hours, 72 hours, and 14 days after the final injection, rats were killed and cardio-perfused, and the brains were removed and sliced up coronarily. The mRNA levels of D2R and DAT in mPFC were determined with in situ hybridization. RESULTS: There were no significant differences of pretest scores staying at the non-preference chamber among the groups(P = 0.470). However, the test scores of the CPP time stayed at pretest natural preference in the HP group were significantly higher than those of the LP group(P = 0.000). In 3h, J3d, and J14d groups,the expressions of D2R mRNA in the HP group (125.43 +/- 2.90 approximately 142.92 +/- 3.32) were lower than those of LP group (122.25 +/- 2.20 approximately 136.67 +/-5.39) (P = 0.000). In 3h and J3d,the expressions of DAT mRNA in the HP group (157.00 +/- 3.55 approximately 145.15 +/- 3.69) were significantly lower than those of the LP group (150.69 +/- 3.12 approximately 138.84 +/- 3.99) (P = 0.000). In J14d, there were no differences among 3 groups in mPFC (P = 0.458). CONCLUSION D2R and DAT may be correlated closely and underlie the different susceptibilities to morphine induced CPP.
Animals ; Conditioning, Psychological ; drug effects ; Disease Susceptibility ; metabolism ; Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Male ; Morphine Dependence ; metabolism ; Prefrontal Cortex ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Dopamine D2 ; biosynthesis ; genetics

beta-CIT was labeled with 131I by the peracetic acid method. Cat model of Parkinsonism was set up with MPTP. Each of normal and PD model cats was given an injection of 74 MBq/0.5 ml 131I-beta-CIT into the femur vein. Then the blood samples were obtained at 4 h and 20 h, the radioactivity was counted with calibrator. The biodistribution data of 131I-beta-CIT in cat body was calculated (ID%/g). The cats were subjected to imaging at 0.5 h, 1 h, 2 h, 4 h, 20 h after the administration of radiopharmaceutical. The radioactivity in striatum and cerebellum was measured and striatal specific binding ratios were calculated. The Results showed that the radio chemical purity of 131I-beta-CIT was 97.62% +/- 0.31%. The 131I-beta-CIT remained stable for at least 4 h after incubation with water and serum respectively. Following intravenous administration in cats, 131I-beta-CIT showed high accumulation in striatum. The study of imaging in cats showed that striatal specific uptake of 131I-beta-CIT at 20 h after injection was 4.83 +/- 0.82 in normal cats and 2.92 +/- 0.66 in PD cats. There was a significant reduction of striatal tracer uptake in PD cats, compared to the controls. The results of biodistribution study was in agreement with the results of imaging study. These results suggest that beta-CIT is an ideal agent for dopamine transporter imaging and can be used for the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease.
Animals ; Brain ; metabolism ; Cats ; Cocaine ; analogs & derivatives ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins ; Female ; Male ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; metabolism ; Membrane Transport Proteins ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; metabolism ; Parkinson Disease ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of 99mTc-TRODAT-1 SPECT in diagnosis and assessing severity of idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD).

METHODSThirty-eight patients with primary, tentative diagnosis of PD and eighteen age-matched normal controls were studied with 99mTc-TRODAT-1 SPECT imaging. The regions of interests (ROIs) were drawn manually on cerebellum (CB), occipital cortex (OC) and three transverse plane slice-views of striatums, the semiquantitative BG (background)/[(OC+CB)/2] were then calculated.

RESULTSA lower uptake of 99mTc-TRODAT-1 in striatums were displayed in thirty-six out of thirty-eight PD patients by visual inspection, compared to controls. In twenty-four PD cases with (Hoehn and Yahr scale) HYS stage I, a greater loss of DAT uptake was found in striatum and its subregions contralateral striatum to the affected limbs than in the same regions of the controls, although the striatal uptake was bilaterally reduced. Using Spearman correlation analysis showed that the reduction of the uptake ratios significantly correlated with the UPDRS in striatum and all its subregions in the PD group (P<0.05), a similar change was also found in the putamen by using the rating scale of Hoehn and Yahr (P<0.05). However, analysis of variance (ANOVA) did not show any relationship between the decreasing uptake of 99mTc-TRODAT-1 and increasing severity of PD patients, although the specific uptake of 99mTc-TRODAT-1 was continuously decreased in the striatum by visual inspection with the progress of PD from HYS stage I to III.

CONCLUSION99mTc-TRODAT-1 SPECT imaging may serve as a useful method for improving the correct diagnosis of PD. In assessing the role of 99mTc-TRODAT-1 SPECT in disease severity of PD, UPDRS can offer a comprehensive index, although the Hoehn and Yahr assessment may be available in part.

Adult ; Aged ; Corpus Striatum ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins ; Feasibility Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; metabolism ; Membrane Transport Proteins ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; metabolism ; Organotechnetium Compounds ; pharmacokinetics ; Parkinson Disease ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; Radiopharmaceuticals ; pharmacokinetics ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Severity of Illness Index ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon ; methods ; Tropanes ; pharmacokinetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of electro-scalp acupuncture (ESA) on dopamine transporter (DAT) in basal ganglia (BG) of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) by single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT).

METHODSTen patients with primary PD were divided equally into two groups randomly. Patients in the treated group received ESA at points of MS6, MS4, MS8, MS9 and MS14, for patients with unilateral lesions, ESA was applied on contralateral points, while for those with bilateral lesions, points of both sides were stimulated, the depth of puncturing was made to arrive at the galea aponeurotica. Patients in the control group took medopa orally in the dosage of 125 mg, 3 times per day for mild, 250 mg, 3 times per day for moderate and 250 mg, 4 times per day for severe cases. All the patients were examined with 99mTc-TRODAT- 1 SPECT before and after 6 weeks' treatment to analyze the activity of DAT by ratio of basal ganglia/occipital (BG/OC) using regional of interesting (ROI) technique.

RESULTSThe uptake of 99mTc-TRODAT-1 increased after treatment in both groups. In the treated group, the homolateral (of the affected limbs, the same below) BG/OC ratios before and after treatment were 1.1883 +/- 0.1471 and 1.2416 +/- 0.3146 respectively, and those in the control group 1.1597 +/- 0.0568, 1.2053 +/- 0.1153, showing no significant difference between them (P > 0.05); while the contralateral BG/OC ratios before and after treatment were 0.9019 +/- 0. 1210 and 0.9496 +/- 0.2522 respectively in the treated group, and 1.0436 +/- 0.1393 and 1.2972 +/- 0.2612 respectively in the control group. The difference value of contralateral BG/OC before and after treatment in the control groups was significantly different (P<0.05). But at other cerebral regions, 99mTc-TRODAT-1 SPECT showed no difference between the two groups in changes before and after treatment, therefore, showed no difference in effect of improving DAT between the two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONESA could reduce the loss of DAT in basal ganglia and improve its activity in patients with PD to protect the dopamine neuron, so as to delay the progression of PD and alleviate clinical symptoms of patients.

Aged ; Basal Ganglia ; metabolism ; Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins ; metabolism ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Parkinson Disease ; metabolism ; pathology ; therapy ; Scalp ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUNDAlthough dopamine transporter (DAT) is essential for addiction, the effect of additive drugs on DAT function is still controversial, especially for opiates. We investigated the functional changes of dopamine transporter in striatum of rhesus monkeys during acute morphine injection and its abstinence.

METHODSFour rhesus monkeys, 6 to 9 years old, two male and two female, were examined for 12 days. Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) was performed with (99)T(cm)-TRODAT-1 as the radiopharmaceutical dopamine transporter agent during different stages of acute morphine injection and its abstinence. The ratios of SPECT signal between striatum and cerebellum (ST/CB) were calculated.

RESULTSThe ST/CB ratio declined significantly on the first day of morphine injection and continued declining with more morphine injections. After abstinence, the ratio increased with time, but was still significantly lower on the 5th day of abstinence than the normal level.

CONCLUSIONSIn rhesus monkey, acute morphine injection has both rapid and lasting effects on DAT by downregulating its function. The decline was partially reversible following morphine abstinence. The results suggest that striatum is one effective target of morphine and that the DAT function in striatum is one indicator for morphine addiction.

Acute Disease ; Animals ; Cerebellum ; metabolism ; Corpus Striatum ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins ; analysis ; physiology ; Female ; Macaca mulatta ; Male ; Morphine Dependence ; physiopathology ; Organotechnetium Compounds ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon ; Tropanes