Reduced midbrain dopamine transporter binding in male adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: association between striatal dopamine markers and motor hyperactivity

Biol Psychiatry. 2005 Feb 1;57(3):229-38. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2004.11.009.

Abstract

Background: The hypothesis that altered dopamine transmission underlies hyperactive-inattentive behavior in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is based on genetic studies and the efficacy of psychostimulants. Most of previous positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission tomography (SPET) studies have shown altered binding of dopamine markers in the basal ganglia. Yet, the functional role of the neurochemical disturbances are poorly understood. The purpose of our study was to examine dopamine transporter (DAT) and dopamine D2 receptor (D2R) binding in adolescents with ADHD and to search for its relationship with cognitive functions as well as locomotor hyperactivity.

Methods: Twelve adolescents with ADHD and 10 young adults were examined with PET using the selective radioligands [11C]PE2I and [11C]raclopride, indexing DAT and D2R density. The simplified reference tissue model was used to calculate binding potential (BP) values. Attention and motor behavior were investigated with a continuous performance task (CPT) and motion measurements.

Results: The BP value for [11C]PE2I and [11C]raclopride in the striatum of children with ADHD did not differ from that of the young adult control subjects. In the midbrain, however, the BP values for DAT were significantly lower (16%; p = .03) in children with ADHD. Dopamine D2 receptor binding in the right caudate nucleus correlated significantly with increased motor activity (r = .70, p = .01).

Conclusions: The lower BP values for DAT in the midbrain suggest that dopamine signaling in subjects with ADHD is altered. Altered dopamine signaling might have a causal relationship to motor hyperactivity and might be considered as a potential endophenotype of ADHD.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Attention
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / metabolism*
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / physiopathology
  • Brain Mapping
  • Carbon Isotopes / pharmacology
  • Child
  • Corpus Striatum / drug effects
  • Corpus Striatum / metabolism*
  • Dopamine Antagonists / pharmacology
  • Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Functional Laterality / physiology
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / methods
  • Linear Models
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
  • Male
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism*
  • Membrane Transport Proteins / metabolism*
  • Mesencephalon / metabolism*
  • Motor Activity / physiology*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism*
  • Neuropsychological Tests / statistics & numerical data
  • Nortropanes / pharmacology
  • Positron-Emission Tomography / methods
  • Protein Binding / drug effects
  • Protein Binding / physiology
  • Raclopride / pharmacology
  • Radioligand Assay / methods
  • Receptors, Dopamine D2 / metabolism
  • Time Factors
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon / methods

Substances

  • Carbon Isotopes
  • Dopamine Antagonists
  • Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Membrane Transport Proteins
  • N-(3-iodoprop-2-enyl)-2-beta-carbomethoxy-3-(4-methylphenyl)nortropane
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Nortropanes
  • Receptors, Dopamine D2
  • SLC6A3 protein, human
  • Raclopride