The effects of methadone in functional connectivity of nucleus accumbens on heroin addicts:a resting state fMRI study / 实用放射学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the effect of methadone maintenace treatment (MMT)in functional connectivity (FC)of nucleus accumbens (Nacc)on heroin addicts,and to identify the potential neuromechanism of MMT performing on heroin craving.Methods Craving scores and resting-state fMRI (rs-fMRI)were performed in 37 heroin addicts under MMT and 26 matched heroin addicts (HA) without any treatment.The rs-fMRI data preprocessing was performed by data processing assistant for rs-fMRI (DPARSF)soft-ware based on Matlab 2009a.Bilateral Naccs were set as regions of interesting (ROIs)respectively,and then the mean time series and other voxels within whole brain were analyzed by the rs-fMRI data analysis toolkit (REST).Intra-and inter-group analysis was performed with a single sample t-test and two sample t-test respectively.The partial correlation between the intensity of FC in brain regions showed abnormal FC and the duration/doses of methadone consumption was further investigated by SPSS.Craving scores were tested with two sample t-test.Results Inter-group analysis showed the FC of the right Nacc with left dorsal medial/lateral prefrontal cortex and right dorsal anterior cingulate was significantly increased in the MMT group in comparisonwith HA group,how-ever,it was decreased with right medial orbitofrontal cortex.The FC between the left Nacc and left dorsal medial/lateral prefrontal cortex,right dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex,right dorsal anterior cingulate and left insular cortex was also significantly increased in the MMT group (P 26,t=2.91).There were no regions with induced FC.The craving scores of MMT were signifi-cantly lower than those of HA (t = - 2.03,P <0.05 ).There was no significant correlation between the abnormal FC and the duration/doses of methadone consumption in MMT group.Conclusion MMT may influence the function of the nucleus accumbens through cognitive control and motivation/drive circuits,thereby reduce drug craving of heroin addicts.