To assess the effects of chronic cocaine intoxication on dopamine
receptors in human subjects, the authors evaluated [18F]N-
methylspiroperidol binding using positron emission tomography in 10 cocaine
abusers and 10 normal control subjects. Cocaine abusers who had been
detoxified for 1 week or less showed significantly lower values for uptake
of [18F]N-methylspiroperidol in striatum than the normal subjects, whereas
the cocaine abusers who had been detoxified for 1 month showed values
comparable to those obtained from normal subjects. The authors conclude
that postsynaptic dopamine receptor availability decreases with chronic
cocaine abuse but may recover after a drug-free interval.Abstract Teaser