NCT02124941

Glutamate-Glutamine Cycling (VCYC) During Cocaine Abstinence Using 1H-MRS

• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 1
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 6 (actual)
• Sponsor: Yale University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 55 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This study is designed to look at the relationship between brain glucose utilization, neurotransmission (e.g., glutamate, also known as the main excitatory amino-acid neurotransmitter in the brain), and synaptic density. This relationship will be explored in the brain's prefrontal cortex, an area important in decision-making and impulsivity.

Conditions

• Cocaine Dependence
• Healthy

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DRUG	N-acetyl cysteine	Upon completion of baseline (abstinence) 1H-MRS scanning, CU and HC subjects will participate in two additional 1H-MRS scans, including after 2 weeks of placebo and 2 weeks of NAC administration (3600 mg/day) given in double-blind, randomized, counterbalanced order.
DIAGNOSTIC_TEST	[18F]FDG PET scan	All subjects will undergo \[18F\]FDG PET to establish previously demonstrated reductions in glucose utilization in PFC and assess VS/nucleus accumbent metabolism at baseline.
DIAGNOSTIC_TEST	1H MRS	All subjects will undergo three magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) scans at 7T, including before and after two-weeks of placebo and NAC administration.
DIAGNOSTIC_TEST	[11C]APP311 PET scan	All subjects will undergo \[11C\]APP311 PET imaging to investigate whether there are differences in synaptic integrity / neuronal plasticity in the brains of individuals abstinent from cocaine compared to healthy controls at baseline.

Timeline

• Start date: 2014-02-01
• Primary completion: 2022-08-14
• Completion: 2022-08-14
• First posted: 2014-04-28
• Last updated: 2023-07-07

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States