A PET Study on D2-Receptor Binding

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

A PET Study on D2-Receptor Binding doi:10.1093/brain/awl163 Brain (2006), 129, 2017–2028 Support for dopaminergic hypoactivity in restless legs syndrome: a PET study on D2-receptor binding Simon Cˇ ervenka,1 Sven E. Pa˚lhagen,2 Robert A. Comley,4 Georgios Panagiotidis,3 Zsolt Csele´nyi,1 Julian C. Matthews,4,5 Robert Y. Lai,6 Christer Halldin1 and Lars Farde1 1Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Psychiatry Section, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, 2Department of Neurology, 3Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden, 4Translational Medicine and Genetics, GlaxoSmithKline, Cambridge, 5The University of Manchester, Wolfson Molecular Imaging Centre, Manchester and 6Neurology Discovery Medicine, GlaxoSmithKline, Harlow, UK Correspondence to: Simon Cˇ ervenka, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Psychiatry Section, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Building R5, SE-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden E-mail: [email protected] Clinical observations support a central role of the dopamine system in restless legs syndrome (RLS) but previous imaging studies of striatal dopamine D2-receptors have yielded inconclusive results. Extrastriatal dopaminergic function has hitherto not been investigated. Sixteen RLS patients naı¨ve to dopaminergic drugs and sixteen matched control subjects were examined with PET. [11C]Raclopride and [11C]FLB 457 were used to estimate D2-receptor availability in striatum and extrastriatal regions, respectively. Examinations were performed both in the morning (starting between 10:00 and 12:00 h) and evening (starting at 18:00 h). Measures were taken to monitor and control for head movement during data acquisition. In the striatum, patients had significantly higher [11C]raclopride binding potential (BP) values than controls. In extrastriatal regions, [11C]FLB 457 BP was higher in patients than controls, and in the regional analysis the difference was statistically significant in subregions of thalamus and the anterior cingulate cortex. The diurnal variability in BP with [11C]FLB 457 and [11C]raclopride was within the previously reported test–retest reproducibility for both radioligands. The study supports involvement of the dopamine system in both striatal and extrastriatal brain regions in the pathophysiology of RLS. The brain regions where differences in D2-receptor binding were shown are implicated in the regulation of affective and motivational aspects of sensory processing, suggesting a possible pathway for sensory symptoms in RLS. Increased D2-receptor availability in RLS may correspond to higher receptor densities or lower levels of endogenous dopamine. Both interpretations are consistent with the hypothesis of hypoactive dopaminergic neurotransmission in RLS, as increased receptor levels can be owing to receptor upregulation in response to low levels of endogenous dopamine. The results do not support variations in dopamine D2-receptor availability as a correlate to the diurnal rhythm of RLS symptoms. Keywords: brain; human; positron emission tomography; restless legs syndrome Abbreviations: ACC = anterior cingulate cortex; AST = associative striatum; BP = binding potential; DVR = distribution volume ratio; LST = limbic striatum; PET = positron emission tomography; RLS = restless legs syndrome; ROI = regions of interest; SPET = single PET; SMST = sensorimotor striatum Received April 19, 2006. Revised May 10, 2006. Accepted May 22, 2006. Advance Access publication July 1, 2006. Introduction Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a disorder characterized by rest and in the evening, leading to insomnia and daytime unpleasant leg sensations together with an irresistible inner sleepiness. Using standardized diagnostic criteria (Table 1), urge to move (Ekbom, 1945). Symptoms are worsened at the prevalence of RLS has recently been estimated to be # The Author (2006). Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Guarantors of Brain. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: [email protected] 2018 Brain (2006), 129, 2017–2028 S. Cˇ ervenka et al. Table 1 Essential diagnostic criteria for restless legs together, imaging studies so far have not conclusively con- syndrome firmed the postulated role of dopaminergic neurotransmis- (1) An urge to move the legs, usually accompanied or caused by sion in the pathophysiology of RLS. uncomfortable and unpleasant sensations in the legs The phenomenology of RLS indicates that sensory (2) The urge to move or unpleasant sensations begin or worsen symptoms precede motor symptoms. Accordingly, RLS during periods of rest or inactivity such as lying or sitting (3) The urge to move or unpleasant sensations are partially or totally can be viewed as a disorder of sensory perception relieved by movement, such as walking or stretching, at least as (Trenkwalder and Paulus, 2004), and it has previously long as the activity continues been proposed that the pathophysiology is related to (4) The urge to move or unpleasant sensations are worse in the an impairment of central somatosensory processing evening or night than during the day or only occur in the evening (Schattschneider et al., 2004). This disease mechanism sug- or night gests involvement of extrastriatal brain regions implicated in 11 Established by the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study the processing of sensory stimuli. [ C]Raclopride is an Group (Allen et al., 2003). established PET radioligand for examining striatum but not for imaging of the minute dopamine D2-receptor concentrations in extrastriatal regions. The advent of 7.2 and 8.5%, respectively, in two large epidemiological high-affinity radioligands such as [11C]FLB 457 has now studies (Allen et al., 2005; Tison et al., 2005), rendering it made it feasible to quantitatively examine low-density D2- one of the most common neurological disorders. receptor populations using PET (Olsson et al., 1999, 2004). The aetiology and pathophysiology of RLS is poorly The aim of the present PET study was to examine dopa- understood. Most cases are idiopathic, but RLS has also mine D2-receptors in 16 RLS patients and 16 control sub- been shown to occur secondary to other conditions such jects. The radioligands [11C]raclopride and [11C]FLB 457 as iron deficiency, uraemia and pregnancy. Approximately were used to allow for examination of both striatal and 50% of RLS cases report a positive family history, with a extrastriatal brain regions. The circadian component of correlation to early disease onset (Winkelmann et al., 2000, the disorder was addressed by performing measurements 2002; Tison et al., 2005). Three genomic regions have been both in the morning and in the evening. associated to RLS susceptibility, but no candidate genes have been identified (Mata et al., 2006). Material and methods Clinical and pharmacological observations point towards a Subjects central role for the dopamine system in the pathophysiology Sixteen patients with idiopathic RLS (8 males, 8 females) and of RLS. Treatment with dopamine agonists shows efficacy as sixteen age- and sex-matched control subjects were recruited by confirmed by controlled trials (Fulda and Wetter, 2005) advertising in daily newspapers. The study was approved by the while dopamine antagonists worsen symptoms or may Ethics and Radiation Safety committees of the Karolinska Institute. even elicit RLS (Kraus et al., 1999; Wetter et al., 2002; Written informed consent was obtained from all subjects. The Pinninti et al., 2005). Indirect support for a role of the age was 55 6 7 years for patients and 56 6 8 years for controls dopamine system in restlessness is also given by the (these and all subsequent values represented as mean 6 SD). observation that akathisia is a common side-effect of anti- The subjects had no history of significant psychiatric or somatic psychotic drugs that all are dopamine antagonists (Barnes, illness as assessed by medical interview, physical examination, routine blood tests and brain MRI. None of the subjects were 1989; Farde, 1992). nicotine users. Several brain imaging studies of the central dopamine RLS patients were examined by a clinical neurologist who system in RLS have been performed to date. All have focused confirmed the diagnosis according to the IRLSSG diagnostic cri- on the striatum, a brain region receiving dense dopaminergic teria. All patients were naı¨ve to dopaminergic drugs as well as innervation. On the presynaptic side, two PET studies have oipiod agonists. Other medication for RLS or sleep was confined 18 shown reduced utilization of [ F]dopa in the striatum to the occasional use of zolpidem by one of the patients and this was (Turjanski et al., 1999; Ruottinen et al., 2000) while one discontinued >5 half-lives prior to the first PET examination. study showed no difference (Trenkwalder et al., 1999b). The symptom duration was 27 6 12 years and heritability for No difference in binding to the dopamine transporter has RLS, defined as at least one first-order relative being affected, been found in studies employing single PET (SPET) was observed in 9 of the 16 cases. In order to confirm study (Eisensehr et al., 2001; Michaud et al., 2002; Tribl et al., eligibility, RLS symptoms in patients were rated on the day of 2002; Linke et al., 2004; Mrowka et al., 2005). Studies on the first PET examination using the IRLSSG severity rating scale (Walters et al., 2003). The average rating was 18.5 6 3.9. Individual radioligand binding to D2-receptors, a marker primarily
Recommended publications
  • Psychophysiology of Aggression
    CHAPTER 5 Psychophysiology of Aggression SUSAN BRANJE and HANS M. KOOT Brief Introduction In this chapter we review psychophysiological studies of the development and main- tenance of aggression in childhood and adolescence. As aggression is likely to be a function of a complex interplay between individual and social factors, this review is concerned with the role of psychophysiological or neurobiological systems in aggressive behavior of children and adolescents, as well as with the interactions of these systems with social factors. The autonomic nervous system (ANS) and the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis both play important roles in the regulation of stress and decision making, and these stress-regulating mechanisms are thought to be important in understanding individual differences in aggressive behavior (Van Goozen, Fairchild, Snoek, & Harold, 2007). Therefore, we focus on the roles of the ANS and the HPA axis in particular. Main Issues Although a large body of literature has addressed psychophysiological correlates of aggressive behavior, the results of these studies are at times quite inconsistent. Contributing to this inconsistency in findings is the heterogeneity in studies in terms of methodological and theoretical issues. We pay attention to a number of these issues, which include the heterogeneity in behavioral constructs and the roles of sex and age. 84 Book_Malti.indb 84 5/10/2018 3:24:42 PM Psychophysiology of Aggression 85 Different Forms of Antisocial and Aggressive Behavior Regarding heterogeneity in behavioral constructs, many studies focus on antisocial behavior more generally and do not distinguish aggressive behaviors from other antisocial or externalizing behaviors. Although externalizing behaviors are often significantly and strongly correlated, failing to distinguish them might obscure research findings and interpretations.
    [Show full text]
  • Leveraging Insights and Approaches from Social and Affective Neuroscience to Promote Adaptive Aging: a Workshop
    Leveraging Insights and Approaches from Social and Affective Neuroscience to Promote Adaptive Aging: A Workshop National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education in collaboration with the National Institute on Aging November 18-19, 2019 Keck Center of the National Academies 500 Fifth Street NW, Washington, DC 20001 Final April 10, 2020 This meeting summary was prepared by Bethany Stokes, Rose Li and Associates, Inc., under contract to the National Institute on Aging (NIA). The views expressed in this document reflect both individual and collective opinions of the meeting participants and not necessarily those of the NIA. Review of earlier versions of this meeting summary by the following individuals is gratefully acknowledged: Kelly Beazley, Natalie Ebner, Derek Isaacowitz, Janice Kiecolt-Glaser, Anne Krendl, Rose Maria Li, Beatriz Luna, Mara Mather, Ulrich Mayr, Meghan Meyer, Judith Moskowitz, Lisbeth Nielsen, Marc Schulz, Rebecca Spencer, Luke Stoeckel, Ann Thompson, Nancy Tuvesson. Leveraging Insights from Social and Affective Neuroscience November 18-19, 2019 Table of Contents Acronym Definitions ............................................................................................................. iii Meeting Summary ................................................................................................................. 1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................1
    [Show full text]
  • Social Neuroscience and Psychopathology: Identifying the Relationship Between Neural Function, Social Cognition, and Social Beha
    Hooker, C.I. (2014). Social Neuroscience and Psychopathology, Chapter to appear in Social Neuroscience: Mind, Brain, and Society Social Neuroscience and Psychopathology: Identifying the relationship between neural function, social cognition, and social behavior Christine I. Hooker, Ph.D. ***************************** Learning Goals: 1. Identify main categories of social and emotional processing and primary neural regions supporting each process. 2. Identify main methodological challenges of research on the neural basis of social behavior in psychopathology and strategies for addressing these challenges. 3. Identify how research in the three social processes discussed in detail – social learning, self-regulation, and theory of mind – inform our understanding of psychopathology. Summary Points: 1. Several psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia and autism, are characterized by social functioning deficits, but there are few interventions that effectively address social problems. 2. Treatment development is hindered by research challenges that limit knowledge about the neural systems that support social behavior, how those neural systems and associated social behaviors are compromised in psychopathology, and how the social environment influences neural function, social behavior, and symptoms of psychopathology. 3. These research challenges can be addressed by tailoring experimental design to optimize sensitivity of both neural and social measures as well as reduce confounds associated with psychopathology. 4. Investigations on the neural mechanisms of social learning, self-regulation, and Theory of Mind provide examples of methodological approaches that can inform our understanding of psychopathology. 5. High-levels of neuroticism, which is a vulnerability for anxiety disorders, is related to hypersensitivity of the amygdala during social fear learning. 6. High-levels of social anhedonia, which is a vulnerability for schizophrenia- spectrum disorders, is related to reduced lateral prefrontal cortex (LPFC) activity 1 Hooker, C.I.
    [Show full text]
  • Adenomatous Polyposis Coli Heterozygous Knockout Mice Display Hypoactivity and Age-Dependent Working Memory Deficits
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by PubMed Central ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE published: 21 December 2011 BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2011.00085 Adenomatous polyposis coli heterozygous knockout mice display hypoactivity and age-dependent working memory deficits Hisatsugu Koshimizu1,2, Yasuyuki Fukui 3, Keizo Takao 2,4, Koji Ohira 1,2, Koichi Tanda 3,5, Kazuo Nakanishi 3, Keiko Toyama 1,2, Masanobu Oshima 6, Makoto Mark Taketo 7 and Tsuyoshi Miyakawa 1,2,4* 1 Division of Systems Medical Science, Institute for Comprehensive Medical Science, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Japan 2 Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology (CREST), Japan Science and Technology Agency, Kawaguchi, Japan 3 Genetic Engineering and Functional Genomics Group, Frontier Technology Center, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan 4 Section of Behavior Patterns, Center for Genetic Analysis of Behavior, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Okazaki, Japan 5 Department of Pediatrics, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan 6 Division of Genetics, Cancer Research Institute, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan 7 Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan Edited by: A tumor suppressor gene, Adenomatous polyposis coli (Apc), is expressed in the nervous Jeff Dalley, University of system from embryonic to adulthood stages, and transmits the Wnt signaling pathway in Cambridge, UK which schizophrenia susceptibility genes, including T-cell factor 4 (TCF4) and calcineurin Reviewed by: (CN), are involved. However, the functions of Apc in the nervous system are largely Jeff Dalley, University of Cambridge, UK unknown. In this study, as the first evaluation of Apc function in the nervous system, Adam C.
    [Show full text]
  • Utility for Candidate Gene Studies in Human Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity
    Journal of Neuroscience Methods 166 (2007) 294–305 Rodent models: Utility for candidate gene studies in human attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) Jonathan Mill a,b,∗ a Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada b Toronto Western Research Institute, Toronto, Canada Received 6 September 2006; received in revised form 30 November 2006; accepted 30 November 2006 Abstract Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurobehavioral disorder defined by symptoms of developmentally inappropriate inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity. Behavioral genetic studies provide overwhelming evidence for a significant genetic role in the patho- genesis of the disorder. Rodent models have proven extremely useful in helping understand more about the genetic basis of ADHD in humans. A number of well-characterized rodent models have been proposed, consisting of inbred strains, selected lines, genetic knockouts, and transgenic animals, which have been used to inform candidate gene studies in ADHD. In addition to providing information about the dysregulation of known candidate genes, rodents are excellent tools for the identification of novel ADHD candidate genes. While not yet widely used to identify genes for ADHD-like behaviors in rodents, quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping approaches using recombinant inbred strains, heterogeneous stock mice, and chemically mutated animals have the potential to revolutionize our understanding of the genetic basis of ADHD. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Keywords: Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); Genetics; Animal model; Quantitative trait loci (QTL); Rodents; Behavior; Candidate gene 1. Introduction is likely that susceptibility is mediated by the effect of numer- ous genes of small effect, interacting both epistatically and with Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a com- the environment.
    [Show full text]
  • Honing in on the Social Difficulties Associated with Sluggish Cognitive Tempo in Children: Withdrawal, Peer Ignoring, and Low Engagement
    Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology ISSN: 1537-4416 (Print) 1537-4424 (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/hcap20 Honing in on the Social Difficulties Associated With Sluggish Cognitive Tempo in Children: Withdrawal, Peer Ignoring, and Low Engagement Stephen P. Becker, Annie A. Garner, Leanne Tamm, Tanya N. Antonini & Jeffery N. Epstein To cite this article: Stephen P. Becker, Annie A. Garner, Leanne Tamm, Tanya N. Antonini & Jeffery N. Epstein (2017): Honing in on the Social Difficulties Associated With Sluggish Cognitive Tempo in Children: Withdrawal, Peer Ignoring, and Low Engagement, Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, DOI: 10.1080/15374416.2017.1286595 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15374416.2017.1286595 Published online: 13 Mar 2017. Submit your article to this journal Article views: 55 View related articles View Crossmark data Full Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=hcap20 Download by: [University of Iowa Libraries] Date: 31 March 2017, At: 09:20 Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 00(00), 1–10, 2017 Copyright © 2017 Society of Clinical Child & Adoloscent Psychology ISSN: 1537-4416 print/1537-4424 online DOI: 10.1080/15374416.2017.1286595 Honing in on the Social Difficulties Associated With Sluggish Cognitive Tempo in Children: Withdrawal, Peer Ignoring, and Low Engagement Stephen P. Becker Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine Annie A. Garner Department of Psychology, Saint Louis University Leanne Tamm Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine Tanya N.
    [Show full text]
  • 2003 New Orleans, UNITED STATES
    INTERNATIONAL BEHAVIOURAL AND NEURAL GENETICS SOCIETY 6th Annual Meeting November 5-7, 2003 Hyatt Regency New Orleans Convention Hotel New Orleans, Louisiana USA Program Sponsored by National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, USA National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, USA National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, USA National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, USA Wednesday, November 5th 6:00-9:00pm Registration Poydras AB – 2nd fl RCC 7:00-10:00pm Reception – hors d’oeuvres and cash bar Poydras AB – 2nd fl RCC Thursday, November 6th 7:00-7:45am Thursday Speakers’ Presentation Preparation Loyola AB – Lower Level RCC (please bring your PPT presentation to be loaded on our computer) 7:00-8:30am Continental Breakfast RCC Foyer - Lower Level 8:15-8:30am Opening Remarks Loyola AB – Lower Level RCC 8:30-10:30am Symposium Session I Loyola AB – Lower Level RCC Genetic influences on anxiety related behaviors: From mouse to monkey to man Chairs & Organizers: Christina Barr & Tim Newman DICBR/LCS Animal Center, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Dickerson, Maryland, USA Identifying genes that influence complex behaviors has become an increasingly important aspect of understanding the spectrum of etiological factors involved in the pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric disease. Both human and animal studies support a role for genes in the incidence of anxiety. While various anxiety-related traits are asserted to be under the influence of genes, gene association studies are often difficult to replicate. Of use to neurobehavioral genetics research is the use of animal models and the identification and definition of appropriate intermediate phenotypes.
    [Show full text]
  • The Neuropsychology of Self-Reflection in Psychiatric Illness
    Journal of Psychiatric Research 54 (2014) 55e63 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Journal of Psychiatric Research journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/psychires Review The neuropsychology of self-reflection in psychiatric illness Carissa L. Philippi*, Michael Koenigs* Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 6001 Research Park Boulevard, Madison, WI 53719, USA article info abstract Article history: The development of robust neuropsychological measures of social and affective functiondwhich link Received 12 November 2013 critical dimensions of mental health to their underlying neural circuitrydcould be a key step in achieving Received in revised form a more pathophysiologically-based approach to psychiatric medicine. In this article, we summarize 10 February 2014 research indicating that self-reflection (the inward attention to personal thoughts, memories, feelings, Accepted 7 March 2014 and actions) may be a useful model for developing such a paradigm, as there is evidence that self- reflection is (1) measurable with self-report scales and performance-based tests, (2) linked to the ac- Keywords: tivity of a specific neural circuit, and (3) dimensionally related to mental health and various forms of Self-reflection Psychiatric illness psychopathology. Ó Depression 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Anxiety Psychopathy Autism Neuropsychology Rest-state functional neuroimaging Medial prefrontal cortex Default mode network 1. Introduction and/or function. Neuropsychology offers a promising approach in this regard. For certain cognitive functions, extensive neuropsy- A major goal in psychiatric medicine is to develop a system of chological batteries of performance-based tests have long been diagnosis and treatment that is pathophysiologically-based (Insel established. For example, in the domain of memory, there are et al., 2010).
    [Show full text]
  • LETTER Doi:10.1038/Nature12024
    LETTER doi:10.1038/nature12024 Rescuing cocaine-induced prefrontal cortex hypoactivity prevents compulsive cocaine seeking Billy T. Chen1, Hau-Jie Yau1, Christina Hatch1, Ikue Kusumoto-Yoshida1, Saemi L. Cho2, F. Woodward Hopf2,3 & Antonello Bonci1,3,4 Loss of control over harmful drug seeking is one of the most intract- Clinical evidence implicates prefrontal cortex (PFC) hypofunction2–4 able aspects of addiction, as human substance abusers continue to in the loss of inhibitory control over drug seeking, but a causal link pursue drugs despite incurring significant negative consequences1. between drug-induced neuroadaptations and compulsive seeking beha- Human studies have suggested that deficits in prefrontal cortical viour remains elusive. We focused on the prelimbic cortex, because a function and consequential loss of inhibitory control2–4 could be homologous region in the human PFC9,10 regulates many cognitive crucial in promoting compulsive drug use. However, it remains functions, including decision making and inhibitory response con- unknown whether chronic drug use compromises cortical activity trol11–15, which are compromised in human addicts3. We propose that and, equally important, whether this deficit promotes compulsive chronic cocaine use induces prelimbic cortex hypoactivity, and that cocaine seeking. Here we use a rat model of compulsive drug seek- compromised prelimbic cortex function in turn impairs inhibitory ing5–8 in which cocaine seeking persists in a subgroup of rats despite a delivery of noxious foot shocks. We show that prolonged cocaine 4–5 weeks 2–3 weeks 1–2 weeks self-administration decreases ex vivo intrinsic excitability of deep- layer pyramidal neurons in the prelimbic cortex, which was sig- Seek-take Long-access Seek-take Contingent nificantly more pronounced in compulsive drug-seeking animals.
    [Show full text]
  • Brain NMDA Receptors in Schizophrenia and Depression
    biomolecules Review Brain NMDA Receptors in Schizophrenia and Depression Albert Adell 1,2 1 Institute of Biomedicine and Biotechnology of Cantabria, IBBTEC (CSIC-University of Cantabria), Calle Albert Einstein 22 (PCTCAN), 39011 Santander, Spain; [email protected] or [email protected] 2 Biomedical Research Networking Center for Mental Health (CIBERSAM), 39011 Santander, Spain Received: 3 June 2020; Accepted: 21 June 2020; Published: 23 June 2020 Abstract: N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists such as phencyclidine (PCP), dizocilpine (MK-801) and ketamine have long been considered a model of schizophrenia, both in animals and humans. However, ketamine has been recently approved for treatment-resistant depression, although with severe restrictions. Interestingly, the dosage in both conditions is similar, and positive symptoms of schizophrenia appear before antidepressant effects emerge. Here, we describe the temporal mechanisms implicated in schizophrenia-like and antidepressant-like effects of NMDA blockade in rats, and postulate that such effects may indicate that NMDA receptor antagonists induce similar mechanistic effects, and only the basal pre-drug state of the organism delimitates the overall outcome. Hence, blockade of NMDA receptors in depressive-like status can lead to amelioration or remission of symptoms, whereas healthy individuals develop psychotic symptoms and schizophrenia patients show an exacerbation of these symptoms after the administration of NMDA receptor antagonists. Keywords: NMDA; depression; schizophrenia; subunit; glutamate; GABA 1. Introduction The N-Methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor (NMDAR) is an ionotropic glutamate receptor that possesses unique characteristics. The flow of ions through the channel is blocked by Mg2+. Two different processes are necessary for activating NMDARs.
    [Show full text]
  • Neuropsychology of Learning Disabilities: Past and Future
    NEUROPSYCHOLOGY OF LEARNING DISABILITIES: PAST AND FUTURE Byron P. Rourke BYRON P. ROURKE, Ph.D., is professor of psychology, University of Windsor, and clinical professor, School of Medicine, Yale University. INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW Specific subtypal definitions. Of particular interest Some of the issues that dominated, or at least held are two subtypes of LD that we have identified in a reli- sway, in the neuropsychology of learning disabilities able and valid manner: nonverbal learning disabilities (LD) in the 1970s included: the definition of LD, (NLD) and basic phonological processing disabilities whether there are reliable and valid subtypes of LD, (BPPD). whether and to what extent LD are related to cerebral The NLD subtype (syndrome) is characterized by a spe- dysfunction, and whether LD are related to types and/or cific pattern of relative assets and deficits in academic degrees of psychosocial dysfunction (Rourke, 1975). It (well-developed single-word reading and spelling rela- is clear that these issues are not mutually exclusive. tive to mechanical arithmetic) and social (e.g., more Indeed, they are intimately connected. We have made efficient use of verbal than nonverbal information in progress in examining these issues, but future chal- social situations) learning, as well as specific, develop- lenges will be substantial. mentally dependent patterns of psychosocial function- ing. Generally, in children with NLD below the age of Definitions: General and Subtypal 4, psychosocial functioning is relatively typical or It has become clear that so-called “discrepancy” defi- reflective of mild deficits. Following this period, emerg- nitions of LD lack scientific credibility (Fletcher et al., ing manifestations of externalized psychopathology are 1989; Fletcher, Francis, Rourke, Shaywitz, & Shaywitz, frequent; the child may be characterized as “hyperac- 1992).
    [Show full text]
  • Temporoparietal Junction Hypoactivity During Pain-Related Empathy Processing in Adolescents with Conduct Disorder
    ORIGINAL RESEARCH published: 11 January 2017 doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2016.02085 Temporoparietal Junction Hypoactivity during Pain-Related Empathy Processing in Adolescents with Conduct Disorder Daifeng Dong, Qingsen Ming, Xiang Wang, Weixia Yu, Yali Jiang, Qiong Wu, Yidian Gao and Shuqiao Yao * Medical Psychological Institute, Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China Background: Lack of empathy has been proposed to account for the characteristic behavioral problems exhibited by adolescents with conduct disorder (CD). Hence, the aim of this study was to determine whether adolescents with CD exhibit atypical affective and cognitive neural empathic responses during pain-related empathy processing. Methods: A total of 30 adolescents with a CD diagnosis and 36 without CD symptoms were recruited from out-patient clinics and local middle schools in the same region, respectively. All 66 participants were subjected to functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while viewing video clips depicting a face with a neutral expression receiving Edited by: non-painful stimulation (Q-tip touch) or a face with a painful expression receiving painful Xi-Nian Zuo, stimulation (needle penetration) applied to the left or right cheek. Chinese Academy of Sciences, China Reviewed by: Results: The regions associated with affective and cognitive empathy were activated in Angela Ciaramidaro, the HC group during pain-related empathy processing. Compared to HCs, adolescents Sapienza University of Rome, Italy Qiu Jiang, with CD showed significantly reduced activation in the bilateral temporoparietal junction Southwest Normal University China, (TPJ). China Conclusions: Adolescents with CD exhibited dampened hemodynamic responses *Correspondence: Shuqiao Yao during pain-related empathy processing in the bilateral TPJ, a region associated with [email protected] cognitive empathy.
    [Show full text]