Wenhan Yang1, Shicong Wang2, Ziqiang Shao2, Ru Yang1, Fei Tang1, Jing Luo1, Cui Yan1, Jun Zhang3, Jiyuan Chen3, Jun Liu4, Kai Yuan5. 1. Department of Radiology, Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China. 2. School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, 710071, China. 3. Hunan Judicial Police Academy, Changsha, China. 4. Department of Radiology, Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China. Electronic address: junliu123@csu.edu.cn. 5. School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, 710071, China; Engineering Research Center of Molecular and Neuroimaging, Ministry of Education, Xi'an, China. Electronic address: kyuan@xidian.edu.cn.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The striatum mediates reward processing in addiction, and previous fMRI (functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging) studies have revealed abnormal striatofrontal functional connectivity in heroin addiction. However, little is known about whether there is abnormal structural connectivity of the striatal circuit in heroin addiction. This study investigated the structural connectivity of striatal circuits in abstinent heroin-dependent individuals (HDIs) without methadone treatment. METHODS: Forty-three (age: 38.8 ± 7.1) male HDIs and twenty-one (age: 42.4 ± 7.9) matched healthy controls underwent high-resolution T1 and whole-brain diffusion tensor imaging (64 directions) magnetic resonance imaging. Connectivity-based seed classification probabilistic tractography was used to detect the tract strengths of striatal circuits with 10 a priori target masks. Tract strengths were compared between groups and correlated with impulsivity behavior, evaluated using the Barratt Impulsivity Scale (BIS), and craving, measured on visual analogue scale (VAS). RESULTS: HDIs showed significantly weaker tract strength of the left striatum-medial orbitofrontal cortex (mOFC) (Bonferroni corrected, p < 0.05/20 = 0.0025) and significantly higher BIS total, attention, motor, and non-planning scores (Bonferroni corrected, p < 0.05/4 = 0.0125) than controls. In HDIs, negative correlations were observed between the left striatum- mOFC tract strengths and the BIS total, attention and non-planning scores (r1=-0.410, p1 = 0.005; r2=-0.432, p2 = 0.003; r3=-0.506, p3<0.001) and between the right striatum-posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) tract strengths and craving scores (r=-0.433, p = 0.009) in HDIs. CONCLUSION: HDIs displayed decreased structural connectivity of the striatum-mOFC circuit and higher impulsivity. Higher impulsive behavior was associated with decreased left striatal circuit connectivity. These findings suggest that the striatal circuit tract strengths might be a novel potential biomarker in heroin and, potentially, general opioid addiction.
INTRODUCTION: The striatum mediates reward processing in addiction, and previous fMRI (functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging) studies have revealed abnormal striatofrontal functional connectivity in heroin addiction. However, little is known about whether there is abnormal structural connectivity of the striatal circuit in heroin addiction. This study investigated the structural connectivity of striatal circuits in abstinent heroin-dependent individuals (HDIs) without methadone treatment. METHODS: Forty-three (age: 38.8 ± 7.1) male HDIs and twenty-one (age: 42.4 ± 7.9) matched healthy controls underwent high-resolution T1 and whole-brain diffusion tensor imaging (64 directions) magnetic resonance imaging. Connectivity-based seed classification probabilistic tractography was used to detect the tract strengths of striatal circuits with 10 a priori target masks. Tract strengths were compared between groups and correlated with impulsivity behavior, evaluated using the Barratt Impulsivity Scale (BIS), and craving, measured on visual analogue scale (VAS). RESULTS: HDIs showed significantly weaker tract strength of the left striatum-medial orbitofrontal cortex (mOFC) (Bonferroni corrected, p < 0.05/20 = 0.0025) and significantly higher BIS total, attention, motor, and non-planning scores (Bonferroni corrected, p < 0.05/4 = 0.0125) than controls. In HDIs, negative correlations were observed between the left striatum- mOFC tract strengths and the BIS total, attention and non-planning scores (r1=-0.410, p1 = 0.005; r2=-0.432, p2 = 0.003; r3=-0.506, p3<0.001) and between the right striatum-posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) tract strengths and craving scores (r=-0.433, p = 0.009) in HDIs. CONCLUSION: HDIs displayed decreased structural connectivity of the striatum-mOFC circuit and higher impulsivity. Higher impulsive behavior was associated with decreased left striatal circuit connectivity. These findings suggest that the striatal circuit tract strengths might be a novel potential biomarker in heroin and, potentially, general opioid addiction.
Authors: Gabrielle Hettie; Chinwe Nwaneshiudu; Maisa S Ziadni; Beth D Darnall; Sean C Mackey; Dokyoung S You Journal: Subst Use Misuse Date: 2021-08-09 Impact factor: 2.362
Authors: Wenhan Yang; Min Zhang; Fei Tang; Yanyao Du; Li Fan; Jing Luo; Cui Yan; Shicong Wang; Jun Zhang; Kai Yuan; Jun Liu Journal: Hum Brain Mapp Date: 2022-03-24 Impact factor: 5.399