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Imaging Synaptic Density in Cocaine and Opiate Addiction In Vivo Using 11UCB-J PET

Imaging Synaptic Density in Cocaine and Opiate Addiction In Vivo Using 11UCB-J PET

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03527485
Enrollment
41
Registered
2018-05-17
Start date
2019-01-01
Completion date
2023-03-28
Last updated
2024-07-16

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

Conditions

Cocaine Dependence, Opiate Dependence

Brief summary

This study aims to measure synaptic density in the brains (including in ventral striatum \[VS\] and medial prefrontal cortex \[mPFC\]) of abstinent subjects with Cocaine Use Disorder (CUD) or Opiate Use Disorder (OUD) as compared to healthy control (HC) subjects using 11C-UCB-J PET. Subjects will undergo a single 11C-UCB-J (also known as 11C-APP311) PET scan. This would be the very first to image synaptic density in human cocaine and opiate users, thereby testing whether altered synaptic density in the rodent brain is recapitulated in CUD and OUD humans. If confirmed, the current study would provide compelling clinical-translational support for an important pathophysiological mechanism of addiction - aberrant structural synaptic plasticity. As such, the current study has considerable potential for advancing the neurobiological understanding of human cocaine and opiate addiction.

Detailed description

This study aims to measure synaptic density in the brains (including in ventral striatum \[VS\] and medial prefrontal cortex \[mPFC\]) of abstinent subjects with Cocaine Use Disorder (CUD) or Opiate Use Disorder (OUD) as compared to healthy control (HC) subjects using 11C-UCB-J PET. Subjects will undergo a single 11C-UCB-J (also known as 11C-APP311) PET scan. This would be the very first to image synaptic density in human cocaine and opiate users, thereby testing whether altered synaptic density in the rodent brain is recapitulated in CUD and OUD humans. If confirmed, the current study would provide compelling clinical-translational support for an important pathophysiological mechanism of addiction - aberrant structural synaptic plasticity. As such, the current study has considerable potential for advancing the neurobiological understanding of human cocaine and opiate addiction. A separate protocol from the study team, identified by the ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT04721418, is conducting a comprehensive investigation into the cocaine use disorder group. Therefore, data for participants with cocaine use disorder are not included in the results for the current registration.

Interventions

DIAGNOSTIC_TEST11UCB-J PET Scan

11UCB-J PET Scan

Sponsors

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
CollaboratorNIH
Yale University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
DIAGNOSTIC
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
21 Years to 55 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Age 21-55 years; * Voluntary, written, informed consent; * Physically healthy by medical history, physical, neurological, ECG and laboratory examinations; * DSM-5 criteria for Opiate Use Disorder; * Documented evidence (by urine toxicology) of 2 weeks abstinence from cocaine and 4 weeks abstinence from opiates; * For females, a negative serum pregnancy (HCG) test; * Full scale and verbal IQs \> 80 (Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV)).

Exclusion criteria

* A history of other substance dependence (e.g., alcohol, sedative hypnotics), except for nicotine; * A primary DSM-5 Axis I major psychiatric disorder (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, etc.) as determined by the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (SCID-5); * A history of significant and uncontrolled medical (e.g., cardiovascular, diabetic/metabolic) or neurological (e.g., cerebrovascular, seizures, traumatic brain injury) illness; * A history of seizures; * Current use of psychotropic and/or potentially psychoactive prescription medications; * Medical contraindications to participation in a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging procedure (e.g., ferromagnetic implants/foreign bodies, claustrophobia, cardiac pacemaker, prosthetic valve, otologic implant, etc.) as recorded on the MR safety sheet; * For females, physical or laboratory (HCG) evidence of pregnancy; * PTT and PT/INR lab results not appropriate for arterial line placement; * Taking anticoagulants; * Being prescribed methadone/buprenorphine upon screening.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
11C-UCB-J PET Synaptic Density90 minute scanPET scan- Participants underwent a single 11C-UCB-J PET scan to obtain measures of synaptic density (BPND). Structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were also obtained for anatomical registration/partial volume correction (PVC) with the iterative Yang (IY) algorithm. BPND is a unitless metric. The study aimed to explore synaptic density differences in subjects with opioid use disorder compared to a control group within the sample.

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Opiate Use Disorder (OUD)
15 subjects meeting opiate dependence criteria will receive 11UCB-J PET Scan. 11UCB-J PET Scan: 11UCB-J PET Scan
15
Healthy Controls (HC)
26 healthy controls; no substance dependence or mental health issues 11UCB-J PET Scan. 11UCB-J PET Scan: 11UCB-J PET Scan
26
Total41

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicOpiate Use Disorder (OUD)Healthy Controls (HC)Total
Age, Continuous37.4 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 6.5
36.7 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 10.6
37.0 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 9.2
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
African American/Black (Non-Hispanic)
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Hispanic or Latino
0 Participants2 Participants2 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Other or Unknown
0 Participants2 Participants2 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
White (Non-Hispanic)
15 Participants22 Participants37 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
15 participants26 participants41 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
5 Participants7 Participants12 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
10 Participants19 Participants29 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 150 / 26
other
Total, other adverse events
0 / 150 / 26
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 150 / 26

Outcome results

Primary

11C-UCB-J PET Synaptic Density

PET scan- Participants underwent a single 11C-UCB-J PET scan to obtain measures of synaptic density (BPND). Structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were also obtained for anatomical registration/partial volume correction (PVC) with the iterative Yang (IY) algorithm. BPND is a unitless metric. The study aimed to explore synaptic density differences in subjects with opioid use disorder compared to a control group within the sample.

Time frame: 90 minute scan

Population: All participants who underwent 11C-UCB-J PET and MRI scans

ArmMeasureGroupValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Opiate Use Disorder (OUD)11C-UCB-J PET Synaptic DensityRegion of Interest: Ventral Striatum (VS)4.01 unitlessStandard Deviation 0.7
Opiate Use Disorder (OUD)11C-UCB-J PET Synaptic DensityRegion of Interest: Prefrontal Cortex (PFC)4.62 unitlessStandard Deviation 0.87
Healthy Controls (HC)11C-UCB-J PET Synaptic DensityRegion of Interest: Ventral Striatum (VS)4.52 unitlessStandard Deviation 0.53
Healthy Controls (HC)11C-UCB-J PET Synaptic DensityRegion of Interest: Prefrontal Cortex (PFC)5.09 unitlessStandard Deviation 0.61
p-value: 0.011ANOVA
p-value: 0.044ANOVA

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