BACKGROUND: In addition to the serotonergic system, the central dopaminergic system has been reported to be correlated with seasonality. The aim of this study was to explore the difference in striatal dopamine D(2)/D(3) receptor availability between healthy volunteers who had a high-sunshine exposure and those who had a low exposure. METHODS: Sixty-eight participants were enrolled, and those in the upper and lower quartiles in terms of sunshine exposure were categorized into high- (n = 17) and low-sunshine-exposure (n = 18) subgroups. Single photon emission computed tomography with [(123)I] iodo-benzamide was used to measure striatal dopamine D(2)/D(3) receptor availability. RESULTS: Striatal dopamine D(2)/D(3) receptor availability was significantly greater in the subjects with high-sunshine exposure than in those with low-sunshine exposure (F = 7.97, p = 0.01) after controlling for age, sex, and smoking status. LIMITATIONS: Different subjects were examined at different time points in our study. In addition, the sex and tobacco use distributions differed between groups. CONCLUSION: The central dopaminergic system may play a role in the neurobiological characteristics of sunshine-exposure variation.
BACKGROUND: In addition to the serotonergic system, the central dopaminergic system has been reported to be correlated with seasonality. The aim of this study was to explore the difference in striatal dopamine D(2)/D(3) receptor availability between healthy volunteers who had a high-sunshine exposure and those who had a low exposure. METHODS: Sixty-eight participants were enrolled, and those in the upper and lower quartiles in terms of sunshine exposure were categorized into high- (n = 17) and low-sunshine-exposure (n = 18) subgroups. Single photon emission computed tomography with [(123)I] iodo-benzamide was used to measure striatal dopamine D(2)/D(3) receptor availability. RESULTS: Striatal dopamine D(2)/D(3) receptor availability was significantly greater in the subjects with high-sunshine exposure than in those with low-sunshine exposure (F = 7.97, p = 0.01) after controlling for age, sex, and smoking status. LIMITATIONS: Different subjects were examined at different time points in our study. In addition, the sex and tobacco use distributions differed between groups. CONCLUSION: The central dopaminergic system may play a role in the neurobiological characteristics of sunshine-exposure variation.
Authors: Elizabeth I Cawley; Sarah Park; Marije aan het Rot; Kimberley Sancton; Chawki Benkelfat; Simon N Young; Diane B Boivin; Marco Leyton Journal: J Psychiatry Neurosci Date: 2013-11 Impact factor: 6.186
Authors: E Zoons; M A J Tijssen; Y E M Dreissen; J D Speelman; M Smit; J Booij Journal: Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging Date: 2017-03-17 Impact factor: 9.236
Authors: Tim D Aumann; Mai Raabus; Doris Tomas; Agustinus Prijanto; Leonid Churilov; Nicholas C Spitzer; Malcolm K Horne Journal: PLoS One Date: 2016-07-18 Impact factor: 3.240