• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.307-312
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• 2022

It is well known that dopamine transmission from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) modulates motivated behavior and reinforcement learning. Although dopaminergic neurons are the major type of VTA neurons, recent studies show that a significant proportion of the VTA contains GABAergic and type 2 vesicular glutamate transporter (VGLUT2)-positive neurons. The non-dopaminergic neurons are also critically involved in regulating motivated behaviors. Some VTA neurons appear to co-release two different types of neurotransmitters. They are VGLUT2-DA neurons, VGLUT2-GABA neurons and GABA-DA neurons. These co-releasing neurons show distinct features compared to the neurons that release a single neurotransmitter. Here, we review how VTA cell populations wire to the other brain regions and how these projections differentially contribute to motivated behavior through the distinct molecular mechanism. We summarize the activities, projections and functions of VTA neurons concerning motivated behavior. This review article discriminates VTA cell populations related to the motivated behavior based on the neurotransmitters they release and extends the classical view of the dopamine-mediated reward system.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.342-348
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• 2001

Objective : Dopamine transporter concentrations have been known to decrease in Parkinson's disease(PD). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the correlation between SPECT measurements of [I-123]N-(3-iodopropene-2-yl)-$2{\beta}$-carbomethoxy-$3{\beta}$-(4-chlorophenyl) tropane(IPT) as an imaging agent for measuring changes in transporter concentrations with PD. Patients and Methods : IPT labelled with $4.87{\pm}1.29mCi$($180.19{\pm}47.73MBq$) of [I-123] was intravenously injected into 23 patients(age : $58{\pm}12$) with PD and three normal controls(NC)(age : $37{\pm}7$) as bolus. Brain SPECT were then performed at 1 hour and 2 hours after injection on a double headed camera. The statistical parameters were the contrast ratio of left basal ganglia(BG) and right basal ganglia to occipital cortex(OCC) per milli curies of injected radiotracer at 1 hour and 2 hours. The correlations were evaluated between these parameters and Hoehn-Yahr classification of the patients. Results : The(BG - OCC)/OCC/mCi ratios at 1 hour and 2 hours for PD and NC were $0.14{\pm}0.07$ and $0.27{\pm}0.07$(1 hour) and $0.12{\pm}0.07$ and $0.34{\pm}0.04$(2 hour), respectively. The(BG - OCC)/OCC/mCi ratios of Parkinson's disease were decreased with higher grade of Hoehn-Yahr classification of the patients. The ratio between BG and OCC for PD were clearly separated from NC and may be useful outcome measures for clinical diagnosis. Conclusion : The findings suggest that IPT may be a very useful tracer for early diagnosis and treatment of PD and study of dopamine re-uptake site.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.35-46
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• 1996

Dopamine transporter concentrations have been known to decrease in Parkinson's disease (PD) or increase in Tourette's disorder. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of [I-123]N-(3-iodopropene-2-yl)-$2{\beta}$-carbomethoxy-$3{\beta}$-(4-chlorophenyl) tropane (IPT) as an imaging agent for measuring changes in transporter concentrations with PD. IPT labelled with 6.69+/-0.64 mCi(247.53+/-23.68 MBq) of I-123 was intravenously injected into ten patients(age: 55+/-11) with PD, and six normal controls(NC)(age: 46+/-14) as a bolus. Dynamic SPECT scans of the brain were then performed for 5 minutes each over 120 minutes on a triple headed camera. Time activity curves were generated for the left basal ganglia(LBG), right basal ganglia(RBC), and occipital cortex(OCC). The statistical parameters included the time to peak activity, the contrast ratio of LBG and RBG to OCC at several time points, and the accumulated specific binding counts/mCi/pixel(ASBC) from 0 to 115 minutes. The uptake of IPT in the brains of PD and NC peaked within 10 minutes of injection in all subjects. The maximum target to background ratio in the basal ganglia of PD and NC occurred at 85+/-20 min and 110+/-6 min of injection, respectively. The BG/OCC ratios at 115 minutes for PD and NC were 2.15+/-0.54 and 4.26+/-0.73, respectively. The ASBC at 115 minutes for PD and NC were 152.91+/-50.09 and 289.51+/-49.00, respectively. The ratio of BG/OCC for the NC was significantly higher than the ratio for PD. SPECT data matched with clinical diagnosis for PDs. The ratio between BG and OCC and the ASBC for PD were clearly separated from NC and may be useful outcome measures for clinical diagnosis. The findings suggest that IPT may be a very useful tracer for early diagnosis of PD and study of dopamine reuptake site.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.183-192
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• 2018

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a trauma-induced psychiatric disorder characterized by impaired fear extermination, hyperarousal, anxiety, depression, and amnesic symptoms that may involve the release of monoamines in the fear circuit. The present study measured several anxiety-related behavioral responses to examine the effects of berberine (BER) on symptoms of anxiety in rats after single prolonged stress (SPS) exposure, and to determine if BER reversed the dopamine (DA) dysfunction. Rats received BER (10, 20, or 30 mg/kg, intraperitoneally, once daily) for 14 days after SPS exposure. BER administration significantly increased the time spent in the open arms and reduced grooming behavior during the elevated plus maze test, and increased the time spent in the central zone and the number of central zone crossings in the open field test. BER restored neurochemical abnormalities and the SPS-induced decrease in DA tissue levels in the hippocampus and striatum. The increased DA concentration during BER treatment may partly be attributed to mRNA expression of tyrosine hydroxylase and the DA transporter in the hippocampus, while BER exerted no significant effects on vesicular monoamine transporter mRNA expression in the hippocampus of rats with PTSD. These results suggest that BER had anxiolytic-like effects on behavioral and biochemical measures associated with anxiety. These findings support a role for reduced anxiety altered DAergic transmission and reduced anxiety in rats with PTSD. Thus, BER may be a useful agent to treat or alleviate psychiatric disorders like those observed in patients with PTSD.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.481-488
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• 2005

Purpose: Functional imaging of dopamine transporter (DAT) defines integrity of the dopaminergic system, and DAT is the target site of drugs of abuse such as cocaine and methamphetamine. Functional imaging the DAT may be a sensitive and selective indicator of neurotoxic change by the drug. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the clinical implications of qualitative/quantitative analyses of dopamine transporter imaging in methamphetamine abusers. Materials and Methods: Six detoxified methamphetamine abusers (abuser group) and 4 volunteers (control group) were enrolled in this study. Brain MRI was performed in all of abuser group. Abuser group underwent psychiatric and depression assessment using brief psychiatric rating scale (BPRS) and Hamilton depression rating scale (HAMD), respectively. All of the subjects underwent I-123 IPT SPECT (IPT SPECT). IPT SPECT image was analysed with visual qualitative method and quantitative method using basal ganglia dopamine transporter (DAT) specific/non-specific binding ratio (SBR). Comparison of DAT SBR between abuser and control groups was performed. We also performed correlation tests between psychiatric and depression assessment results and DAT SBR in abuser group. Results: All of abuser group showed normal MRI finding, but had residual psychiatric and depressive symptoms, and psychiatric and depressive symptom scores were exactly correlated (r=1.0, p=0.005) each other. Five of them showed abnormal finding on qualitative visual I-123 IPT SPECT Abuser group had lower basal ganglia DAT SBR than that of control ($2.38{\pm}0.20\;vs\;3.04{\pm}0.27$, p=0.000). Psychiatric and depressive symptoms were negatively well correlated with basal ganglia DAT SBR (r=-0.908, p=0.012, r=-0.924, p=0.009). Conclusion: These results suggest that dopamine transporter imaging using I-123 IPT SPECT may be used to evaluate dopaminergic system of the basal ganglia and the clinical status in methamphetamine abusers.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.315-324
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• 1996

The purpose of this study was to compare the specific binding ratio method with model-based methods in estimating the transporter parameter $k_3/k_4$ in normal controls and Parkinson's patients with [I-123]IPT SPECT and to evaluate the usefulness of [I-123]IPT SPECT. $6.5{\pm}1.1$ mCi ($239.0{\pm}40.3$ MBq) of [$^{123}I$]IPT was intravenouly injected as a bolus into six normal controls(age:$45{\pm}13$) and seventeen patients(age:$55{\pm}8$) with Pakinson's disease(PD). The transporter parameter $k_3/k_4$ was derived using the Ichise's graphical method($R_v$) and Lassen's area ratio method($R_A$) for the dynamic IPT SPECT data without blood samples. Then, the relationships between the transporter parameter $R-v,\;R_A$ and the ratio of (BG-OCC)/OCC at 115 minutes were evaluated by linear regression analysis. $R_vs$ by Ichise's graphical method for NC and PD were $2.08{\pm}0.29$ and $0.78{\pm}0.31$, respectively. $R_As$ by Lassen's area ratio method for NC and PD were $1.48{\pm}0.16$ and $0.65{\pm}0.24$, respectively. The correlation coefficients between (BG-OCC)/OCC and $R_v$, (BG-OCC)/OCC and $R_A$, and $R_v$ and $R_A$ were 0.93, 0.90, 0.99 and their corresponding slopes were 0.54, 0.34, and 0.65, respectively. The $R_v$ and $R_A$ of NC were significantly higher than the ones of PD. That is, the $k_3/k_4$ of NC was clearly separated from the one of PD. $k_3/k_4$ showed a good correlation with the ratio of (BG-OCC)/OCC. The results indicate that the noninvasive simplified quantitative methods may be useful to measure the transporter parameter $k_3/k_4$ and the specific binding ratio method can be used for quantitative studies of dopamine transporter with [I-123]IPT SPECT in humans brains.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.19-34
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• 1996

[ $[^{123}I]{\beta}$ ]-CIT [$2{\beta}$-carbomethoxy-$3{\beta}$-(4-iodophenyl)tropane]는 도파민 운반체 (dopamine transporter)에 특이결합하며 $[^{123}I]{\beta}$-CIT의 도파민 운반체 결합정도는 파킨슨병에서 도파민 뉴우런의 변성정도를 반영하는 것으로 제안되어 왔다. 이 연구의 주요 목적은 파킨슨병 환자에서 $[^{123}I]{\beta}$-CIT SPECT를 이용하여 측정된 $[^{123}I]{\beta}$-CIT의 선조체 결합지표들이 질병의 임상적 진행정도를 반영하는지를 검토하고, 간편화된 조직방사능비가 $[^{123}I]{\beta}$-CIT의 결합정도를 나타내는 정량적 지표로 이용될 수 있는지를 검증하는 것이었다. 파킨슨병 환자 30명($59{\pm}9$세, 평균${\pm}$표준편차: Hoehn-Yahr stage 1-3)과 정상인 6명 ($58{\pm}5$세)을 대상으로 $[^{123}I]{\beta}$-CIT SPECT 영상을 얻었다. $[^{123}I]{\beta}$-CIT 선조체 결합의 정량적 지표로서 (선조체 방사능-소뇌방사능)/소뇌방사능 비(specific binding ratio, SBR)와 추적자역학모델을 이용하여 측정한 선조체 결합능(binding potential)($k_3/k_4$)을 구하였다. 파킨슨병 환자에서 $[^{123}I]{\beta}$-CIT의 선조체 결합역학은 정상인에 비하여 현저하게 느렸으며 그 결합지표들은 정상인에 비하여 뚜렷하게 낮았다. 한편, 편측파킨슨병 환자에서 $[^{123}I]{\beta}$-CIT 결합은 증상 반대쪽 선조체 뿐만 아니라 같은 쪽 선조체에서도 정상인에 비해 유의하게 감소되어 있었다. 파킨슨병 환자에서 $[^{123}I]{\beta}$-CIT 투여 후 24시간의 선조체 SBR 및 최대 SBR, 선조체 결합능은 모두, 유병기간, Hoehn-Yahr stage, UPDRS(Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale) 총점, UPDRS 운동점수, UPDRS 일상활동점수와 유의한 상관관계를 나타내었다. 24시간 선조체 SBR과 최대 SBR은 선조체 결합능과 우수한 상관관계를 보였다. 이상의 결과로부터 $[^{123}I]{\beta}$-CIT의 선조체 결합은 파킨슨병의 진행정도를 나타내는 지표로 이용될 수 있다. 또 $[^{123}I]{\beta}$-CIT 투여 후 24시간 영상으로부터 얻은 간편화된 조직방사능 비는 $[^{123}I]{\beta}$-CIT의 결합정도를 정량적으로 반영한다. $[^{123}I]{\beta}$-CIT SPECT는 파킨슨병의 조기진단 및 진행 추적에 임상적으로 유용할 것으로 판단된다.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.235-244
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• 2003

Purpose: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been known as psychiatric disorder in childhood associated with dopamine dysregulation. In present study, we investigated changes in dopamine transporter (DAT) density of the basal ganglias using I-123 N-(3-iodopropen-2-yl) -2-carbomethoxy-3beta-(4-chlorophenyl) tropane [I-123 IPT] SPECT in children with ADHD before and after methylphenidate treatment. Materials and Method: Nine drug-naive children with ADHD and seven normal children were included in the study. We peformed brain SPECT two hours after the intravenous administration of I-123 IPT and made both quantitative and qualitative analyses using the obtained SPECT data, which were reconstructed for the assessment of soecific/nonspecific DAT binding ratios in the basal ganglia. All children with ADHD reperformed [123I]IPT SPECT after treatment with methylphenidate(0.7mg/kg/d) during about 8 weeks. SPECT data reconstructed for the assessment of specific/nonspecific DAT binding ratio of the basal ganglia were compared between before and after treatment methylphenidate. We investigated correlation between the change of ADHD symptom severity assessed with ADHD rating scale-IV and specific/nonspecific DAT binding ratio of basal ganglia. Results: Children with ADHD had a significantly greater specificinonspecific DAT binding ratio of the basal ganglia comparing to normal children(Right : z = 2.057, p = 0.041 : Left : z : 2.096, p = 0.032). Under treatment with methylphenidate in all children with ADHD, specificinonspecific DAT binding ratio of both basal ganglia decreased significantly greater than before treatment with methylphenidate (Right : t = 3.239, p = 0.018 ; Left : t = 3.133, p = 0.020). However, no significant correlation between the change of ADHD symptom severity scores and specific/nonspecific DAT binding ratio of the basal ganglia were found. Conclusions: These findings support the complex dysregulation of the dopaminergic neurotransmitter system in children with ADHD.

• 대한핵의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.26.1-26.1
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• 2003

• 대한핵의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1997.05a
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• pp.146-146
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• 1997