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Nucleus Accumbens D2/3 Receptors Predict Trait Impulsivity and Cocaine Reinforcement
Jeffrey W. Dalley,1,2*Tim D. Fryer,1,3Laurent Brichard,1Emma S. J. Robinson,1David E. H. Theobald,1,2Kristjan Lääne,1,2Yolanda Peña,1Emily R. Murphy,1,2Yasmene Shah,4Katrin Probst,1,3Irina Abakumova,1,3Franklin I. Aigbirhio,1,3Hugh K. Richards,1,5Young Hong,1,3Jean-Claude Baron,1,6Barry J. Everitt,1,2Trevor W. Robbins1,2
Stimulant addiction is often linked to excessive risk taking,sensation seeking, and impulsivity, but in ways that are poorlyunderstood. We report here that a form of impulsivity in ratspredicts high rates of intravenous cocaine self-administrationand is associated with changes in dopamine (DA) function beforedrug exposure. Using positron emission tomography, we demonstratedthat D2/3 receptor availability is significantly reduced inthe nucleus accumbens of impulsive rats that were never exposedto cocaine and that such effects are independent of DA release.These data demonstrate that trait impulsivity predicts cocainereinforcement and that D2 receptor dysfunction in abstinentcocaine addicts may, in part, be determined by premorbid influences.
1 Behavioral and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EB, UK. 2 Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EB, UK. 3 Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge CB2 2QQ, UK. 4 Sir Peter Mansfield Magnetic Resonance Centre, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK. 5 Neurosurgery Unit, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge CB2 2QQ, UK. 6 Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge CB2 2QQ, UK.
Present address: Laboratoire d'Imagerie Moléculaire etFonctionnelle: de la Physiologie à la Thérapie,ERT CNRS/Université Victor Segalen Bordeaux 2, Bordeaux,France.
Present address: Department of Pharmacology, University of Bristol,Bristol BS8 1TD, UK.
Present address: Departament de Psiquiatria i de Medicina Legal,Universita Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: jwd20{at}cam.ac.uk
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Present address: Laboratoire d'Imagerie Moléculaire et Fonctionnelle: de la Physiologie à la Thérapie, ERT CNRS/Université Victor Segalen Bordeaux 2, Bordeaux, France. 
Present address: Department of Pharmacology, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK. 
Present address: Departament de Psiquiatria i de Medicina Legal, Universita Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. 
