Dopamine D1 receptor binding in the anterior cingulate cortex of patients with obsessive–compulsive disorder

Olver, James S.; O'Keefe, Graeme; Jones, Gareth R.; Burrows, Graham D.; Tochon-Danguy, Henri J.; Ackermann, Uwe; Scott, Andrew M.; Norman, Trevor R.

doi:10.1016/j.pscychresns.2010.04.004

« Previous Next »Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging
Volume 183, Issue 1 , Pages 85-88, 30 July 2010

Dopamine D₁ receptor binding in the anterior cingulate cortex of patients with obsessive–compulsive disorder

James S. Olver
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for PET, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
- Corresponding author. Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Studley Rd, Heidelberg, Victoria 3084, Australia. Tel.: +61 3 9496 5511; fax: 61 3 9459 0821.
Graeme O'Keefe
- Centre for PET, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
Gareth R. Jones
- Centre for PET, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
Graham D. Burrows
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
Henri J. Tochon-Danguy
- Centre for PET, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
Uwe Ackermann
- Centre for PET, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
Andrew M. Scott
- Centre for PET, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
Trevor R. Norman
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia

Received 3 July 2009; received in revised form 27 January 2010; accepted 8 April 2010.

Abstract

Functional neuroimaging studies in patients with obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) suggest there is a hyperactivation of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) during provocation of symptoms and conflict–inhibition tasks. Since dopamine, acting through D₁ receptors is suggested to modulate ACC activity, we hypothesised that there would be an altered D₁ binding potential (BP) in the ACC of OCD patients. Using [¹¹C]-SCH23390 and positron emission tomography, we report significantly reduced D₁ BP in seven drug-free OCD patients compared with matched healthy controls. These findings suggest mesocortical dopamine inputs via D₁ receptors may play a role in the aetiology of OCD.

Keywords: Dopamine, Obsessive–compulsive disorder, Positron emission tomography, Anterior cingulate cortex