Skip to content

Exploring Occupancy of Dopamine D3 Receptor by Buspirone in Humans Using PET

Exploring Occupancy of Dopamine D3 Receptor by Buspirone in Humans Using PET

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 1Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01699828
Enrollment
6
Registered
2012-10-04
Start date
2012-10-31
Completion date
2014-06-30
Last updated
2014-06-04

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Smoking Cessation, Tobacco Use Cessation

Keywords

buspirone, smoking cessation, dopamine, PET imaging, [11C]-(+)-PHNO

Brief summary

The objective of the present study is to use positron emission tomography brain imaging to investigate D3 occupancy of buspirone, an FDA-approved anxiolytic which acts as a serotonin partial agonist but has recently been identified as a D3 antagonist. It is hypothesized that clinically relevant doses of buspirone will occupy the D3 receptor.

Detailed description

Buspirone is used for anxiety disorder treatment, a therapeutic effect that has been thought to be mediated through its partial agonist properties at the serotonin receptor. However, since one PET study in humans has shown low occupancy of the serotonin by buspirone in clinical doses and since the DRD3 has been recently implicated in anxiety, some therapeutic effects of buspirone may be mediated through the DRD3. In human clinical studies, promising effects of buspirone have been reported for treatment of substance dependence, including tobacco, marijuana, and opiates, and clinical studies in cocaine dependent subjects are underway. However, it is unclear if buspirone is producing those effects through the DRD3 and no human study has incorporated a PET imaging component to investigate this question; it remains unclear whether buspirone significantly occupies the DRD3 at therapeutic doses in humans.

Interventions

DRUGBuspirone

The buspirone will be given once as a tablet and encapsulated for blinding.

DRUGPlacebo

Placebo will be lactose and encapsulated for blinding. A single capsule will be given.

Sponsors

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
19 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

\- 19 years or older

Exclusion criteria

* Medical condition including cardiovascular, renal, hepatic or cerebrovascular diseases * History of or current neurological illnesses including seizure disorders, migraine, multiple sclerosis, movement disorders, head trauma, CVA or CNS tumor, - Present or past psychiatric condition including mood, anxiety, psychotic disorders and substance abuse and/or dependence. * Condition that precludes use of buspirone or that will interfere with participation in the present study (such as hypersensitive to buspirone hydrochloride). * Pregnancy or breastfeeding. * Presence of metal objects in the body or implanted electronic devices, that preclude safe MR scanning. * Claustrophobia. * Current use or use during the previous month of medication that may affect the CNS, including monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) or positive during drug screening for drugs of abuse or any medication that could increase the risk of buspirone administration. * Exposure to radiation in the last 12 month exceeding permissible limit for subjects participating in research.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Dose-response occupancy of buspirone at DRD3few months\[11C\]-(+)-PHNO binding potential at three doses of buspirone and placebo.

Countries

Canada

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026