Dataset Information

Midbrain dopamine function in schizophrenia and depression: a post-mortem and positron emission tomographic imaging study.

ABSTRACT: Elevated in vivo markers of presynaptic striatal dopamine activity have been a consistent finding in schizophrenia, and include a large effect size elevation in dopamine synthesis capacity. However, it is not known if the dopaminergic dysfunction is limited to the striatal terminals of dopamine neurons, or is also evident in the dopamine neuron cell bodies, which mostly originate in the substantia nigra. The aim of our studies was therefore to determine whether dopamine synthesis capacity is altered in the substantia nigra of people with schizophrenia, and how this relates to symptoms. In a post-mortem study, a semi-quantitative analysis of tyrosine hydroxylase staining was conducted in nigral dopaminergic cells from post-mortem tissue from patients with schizophrenia (n = 12), major depressive disorder (n = 13) and matched control subjects (n = 13). In an in vivo imaging study, nigral and striatal dopaminergic function was measured in patients with schizophrenia (n = 29) and matched healthy control subjects (n = 29) using (18)F-dihydroxyphenyl-L-alanine ((18)F-DOPA) positron emission tomography. In the post-mortem study we found that tyrosine hydroxylase staining was significantly increased in nigral dopaminergic neurons in schizophrenia compared with both control subjects (P < 0.001) and major depressive disorder (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in tyrosine hydroxylase staining between control subjects and patients with major depressive disorder, indicating that the elevation in schizophrenia is not a non-specific indicator of psychiatric illness. In the in vivo imaging study we found that (18)F-dihydroxyphenyl-L-alanine uptake was elevated in both the substantia nigra and in the striatum of patients with schizophrenia (effect sizes = 0.85, P = 0.003 and 1.14, P < 0.0001, respectively) and, in the voxel-based analysis, was elevated in the right nigra (P < 0.05 corrected for family wise-error). Furthermore, nigral (18)F-dihydroxyphenyl-L-alanine uptake was positively related with the severity of symptoms (r = 0.39, P = 0.035) in patients. However, whereas nigral and striatal (18)F-dihydroxyphenyl-L-alanine uptake were positively related in control subjects (r = 0.63, P < 0.001), this was not the case in patients (r = 0.30, P = 0.11). These findings indicate that elevated dopamine synthesis capacity is seen in the nigral origin of dopamine neurons as well as their striatal terminals in schizophrenia, and is linked to symptom severity in patients.

SUBMITTER: Howes OD

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3808688 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Midbrain dopamine function in schizophrenia and depression: a post-mortem and positron emission tomographic imaging study.

Howes Oliver D OD Williams Matthew M Ibrahim Kemal K Leung Garret G Egerton Alice A McGuire Philip K PK Turkheimer Federico F

Brain : a journal of neurology 20131003 Pt 11

Elevated in vivo markers of presynaptic striatal dopamine activity have been a consistent finding in schizophrenia, and include a large effect size elevation in dopamine synthesis capacity. However, it is not known if the dopaminergic dysfunction is limited to the striatal terminals of dopamine neurons, or is also evident in the dopamine neuron cell bodies, which mostly originate in the substantia nigra. The aim of our studies was therefore to determine whether dopamine synthesis capacity is alt ...[more]

PMID: 24097339

Similar Datasets

Project description:Multiple lines of evidence suggest a deficit in dopamine release in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) in schizophrenia. Despite the prevalence of the concept of prefrontal cortical hypodopaminergia in schizophrenia, in vivo imaging of dopamine release in the PFC has not been possible until now, when the validity of using the positron emission tomographic D2/3 radiotracer carbon 11-labeled FLB457 in combination with the amphetamine paradigm was clearly established.To (1) test amphetamine-induced dopamine release in the dorsolateral PFC (DLPFC) in drug-free or drug-naive patients with schizophrenia (SCZ) and healthy control (HC) individuals matched for age, sex, race/ethnicity, and familial socioeconomic status;(2) test blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging activation during a working memory task in the same participants; and (3) examine the relationship between positron emission tomographic and functional magnetic resonance imaging outcome measures.Positron emission tomographic imaging with carbon 11-labeled FLB457 before and following 0.5 mg/kg of amphetamine by mouth. Blood oxygenation level-dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging during the self-ordered working memory task. Twenty patients with schizophrenia recruited from the inpatient and outpatient research facilities at New York State Psychiatric Institute and 21 healthy control individuals participated, and data were acquired between June 16, 2011, and February 25, 2014.The percentage change in binding potential (?BPND) in the DLPFC following amphetamine, BOLD activation during the self-ordered working memory task compared with the control task, and the correlation between these 2 outcome measures.We observed significant differences in the effect of amphetamine on DLPFC BPND (mean [SD], ?BPND in HC: -7.5% [11%]; SCZ: +1.8% [11%]; P?=?.01); a generalized blunting in dopamine release in SCZ involving most extrastriatal regions and the midbrain; and a significant association between ?BPND and BOLD activation in the DLPFC in the overall sample including patients with SCZ and HC individuals.To our knowledge, these results provide the first in vivo evidence for a deficit in the capacity for dopamine release in the DLPFC in SCZ and suggest a more widespread deficit extending to many cortical and extrastriatal regions including the midbrain. This contrasts with the well-replicated excess in dopamine release in the associative striatum in SCZ and suggests a differential regulation of striatal dopamine release in associative striatum vs extrastriatal regions. Furthermore, dopamine release in the DLPFC relates to working memory-related activation of this region, suggesting that blunted release may affect frontal cortical function.

Project description:ImportanceThe dopamine hypothesis suggests that dopamine abnormalities underlie psychosis, irrespective of diagnosis, implicating dopamine dysregulation in bipolar affective disorder and schizophrenia, in line with the research domain criteria approach. However, this hypothesis has not been directly examined in individuals diagnosed with bipolar disorder with psychosis.ObjectivesTo test whether dopamine synthesis capacity is elevated in bipolar disorder with psychosis and how this compares with schizophrenia and matched controls and to examine whether dopamine synthesis capacity is associated with psychotic symptom severity, irrespective of diagnostic class.Design, setting, and participantsThis cross-sectional case-control positron emission tomographic study was performed in the setting of first-episode psychosis services in an inner-city area (London, England). Sixty individuals participated in the study (22 with bipolar psychosis [18 antipsychotic naive or free], 16 with schizophrenia [14 antipsychotic naive or free], and 22 matched controls) and underwent fluorodihydroxyphenyl-l-alanine ([18F]-DOPA) positron emission tomography to examine dopamine synthesis capacity. Standardized clinical measures, including the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, Young Mania Rating Scale, and Global Assessment of Functioning, were administered. The study dates were March 2013 to November 2016.Main outcomes and measuresDopamine synthesis capacity (Kicer) and clinical measures (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, Young Mania Rating Scale, and Global Assessment of Functioning).ResultsThe mean (SD) ages of participants were 23.6 (3.6) years in 22 individuals with bipolar psychosis (13 male), 26.3 (4.4) years in 16 individuals with schizophrenia (14 male), and 24.5 (4.5) years in controls (14 male). There was a significant group difference in striatal dopamine synthesis capacity (Kicer) (F2,57 = 6.80, P = .002). Kicer was significantly elevated in both the bipolar group (mean [SD], 13.18 [1.08] × 10-3 min-1; P = .002) and the schizophrenia group (mean [SD], 12.94 [0.79] × 10-3 min-1; P = .04) compared with controls (mean [SD], 12.16 [0.92] × 10-3 min-1). There was no significant difference in striatal Kicer between the bipolar and schizophrenia groups. Kicer was significantly positively correlated with positive psychotic symptom severity in the combined bipolar and schizophrenia sample experiencing a current psychotic episode, explaining 27% of the variance in symptom severity (n = 32, r = 0.52, P = .003). There was a significant positive association between Kicer and positive psychotic symptom severity in individuals with bipolar disorder experiencing a current psychotic episode (n = 16, r = 0.60, P = .01), which remained significant after adjusting for manic symptom severity.Conclusions and relevanceThese findings are consistent with a transdiagnostic role for dopamine dysfunction in the pathoetiology of psychosis and suggest dopamine synthesis capacity as a potential novel drug target for bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

Project description:The dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia posits that increased subcortical dopamine underpins psychosis. In vivo imaging studies indicate an increased presynaptic dopamine synthesis capacity in striatal terminals and cell bodies in the midbrain in schizophrenia; however, measures of the dopamine-synthesising enzyme, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), have not identified consistent changes. We hypothesise that dopamine dysregulation in schizophrenia could result from changes in expression of dopamine synthesis enzymes, receptors, transporters or catabolic enzymes. Gene expression of 12 dopamine-related molecules was examined in post-mortem midbrain (28 antipsychotic-treated schizophrenia cases/29 controls) using quantitative PCR. TH and the synaptic dopamine transporter (DAT) proteins were examined in post-mortem midbrain (26 antipsychotic-treated schizophrenia cases per 27 controls) using immunoblotting. TH and aromatic acid decarboxylase (AADC) mRNA and TH protein were unchanged in the midbrain in schizophrenia compared with controls. Dopamine receptor D2 short, vesicular monoamine transporter (VMAT2) and DAT mRNAs were significantly decreased in schizophrenia, with no change in DRD3 mRNA, DRD3nf mRNA and DAT protein between diagnostic groups. However, DAT protein was significantly increased in putatively treatment-resistant cases of schizophrenia compared to putatively treatment-responsive cases. Midbrain monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) mRNA was increased, whereas MAOB and catechol-O-methyl transferase mRNAs were unchanged in schizophrenia. We conclude that, whereas some mRNA changes are consistent with increased dopamine action (decreased DAT mRNA), others suggest reduced dopamine action (increased MAOA mRNA) in the midbrain in schizophrenia. Here, we identify a molecular signature of dopamine dysregulation in the midbrain in schizophrenia that mainly includes gene expression changes of molecules involved in dopamine synthesis and in regulating the time course of dopamine action.

Project description:ImportanceThe causes of cognitive impairment in dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and Parkinson disease (PD) are multifactorial. Tau pathologic changes are commonly observed at autopsy in individuals with DLB and PD dementia, but their contribution to these diseases during life is unknown.ObjectiveTo contrast tau aggregation in DLB, cognitively impaired persons with PD (PD-impaired), cognitively normal individuals with PD (PD-normal), and healthy persons serving as control participants, and to evaluate the association between tau aggregation, amyloid deposition, and cognitive function.Design, setting, and participantsThis cross-sectional study was conducted from January 1, 2014, to April 28, 2016, in a tertiary care center's memory and movement disorders units. Twenty-four patients with Lewy body disease (7 DLB, 8 PD-impaired, and 9 PD-normal) underwent multimodal brain imaging, cognitive testing, and neurologic evaluation, and imaging measures were compared with those of an independently acquired group of 29 controls with minimal brain amyloid burden as measured with carbon 11-labeled Pittsburgh Compound B ([11C]PiB) positron emission tomography (PET).ExposuresImaging with fluorine 18-labeled AV-1451 ([18F]AV-1451) (formerly known as [18F]T807), [11C]PiB PET, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), neurologic examination, and detailed cognitive testing using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Clinical Dementia Rating scale.Main outcomes and measuresMain outcomes were differentiation of diagnostic groups on the basis of [18F]AV-1451 binding, the association of [18F]AV-1451 binding with [11C]PiB binding, and the association of [18F]AV-1451 binding with cognitive impairment. All but 3 individuals underwent amyloid imaging with [11C]PiB PET. The hypotheses being tested were formulated before data collection. Mini-Mental State Examination (range, 0-30, with 30 being best) and Clinical Dementia Rating scale sum-of-boxes scale (range, 0-18, with 0 being best) were used for assessment of cognitive function.ResultsIn patients with DLB, cortical [18F]AV-1451 uptake was highly variable and greater than in the controls, particularly in the inferior temporal gyrus and precuneus. Foci of increased [18F]AV-1451 binding in the inferior temporal gyrus and precuneus were also evident in PD-impaired patients. Elevated cortical [18F]AV-1451 binding was observed in 4 of 17 patients with Lewy body disease with low cortical [11C]PiB retention. For DLB and PD-impaired patients, greater [18F]AV-1451 uptake in the inferior temporal gyrus and precuneus was associated with increased cognitive impairment as measured with the MMSE and the Clinical Dementia Rating scale sum-of-boxes score.Conclusions and relevancePatients with Lewy body disease manifest a spectrum of tau pathology. Cortical aggregates of tau are common in patients with DLB and in PD-impaired patients, even in those without elevated amyloid levels. When present, tau deposition is associated with cognitive impairment. These findings support a role for tau copathology in the Lewy body diseases.

Dataset Information

Midbrain dopamine function in schizophrenia and depression: a post-mortem and positron emission tomographic imaging study.

Publications

Midbrain dopamine function in schizophrenia and depression: a post-mortem and positron emission tomographic imaging study.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets