Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-fscjk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-21T17:29:22.271Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Decreased lymphocyte dopamine transporter in romantic lovers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 December 2016

Donatella Marazziti ,
Stefano Baroni ,
Gino Giannaccini ,
Armando Piccinni ,
Federico Mucci ,
Mario Catena-Dell’Osso ,
Grazia Rutigliano ,
Gabriele Massimetti  and
Liliana Dell’Osso
Donatella Marazziti*
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
Stefano Baroni
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
Gino Giannaccini
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Farmacia, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
Armando Piccinni
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
Federico Mucci
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
Mario Catena-Dell’Osso
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
Grazia Rutigliano
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
Gabriele Massimetti
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
Liliana Dell’Osso
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
*
*Address for correspondence: Dr. Donatella Marazziti, Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, via Roma, 67, I-56100 Pisa, Italy. (Email: dmarazzi@psico.med.unipi.it)
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objective

The role of dopamine (DA) in romantic love is suggested by different evidence and is supported by the findings of some brain imaging studies. The DA transporter (DAT) is a key structure in regulating the concentration of the neurotransmitter in the synaptic cleft. Given the presence of DAT in blood cells, the present study aimed to explore it in resting lymphocytes of 30 healthy subjects of both sexes in the early stage of romantic love (no longer than 6 months), as compared with 30 subjects involved in a long-lasting relationship.

Methods

All subjects had no physical or psychiatric illness. The DAT was measured by means of the [3H]-WIN 35,428 binding and the [3H]-DA reuptake to resting lymphocytes membranes. Romantic love was assessed by a specific questionnaire developed by us.

Results

The results showed that the subjects in the early phase of romantic love had a global alteration of the lymphocyte DAT involving both a decreased number of proteins (Bmax) and a reduced functionality (Vmax).

Conclusions

Taken together, these findings would indicate the presence of increased levels of DA in romantic love that, if paralleled by similar concentrations in the brain, would explain some peculiar features of this human feeling.

Keywords

[3H]-Dopamine reuptake[3H]-WIN 35428 binding romantic lovedopaminedopamine transporterresting lymphocytes
Type
Original Research
Information
CNS Spectrums , Volume 22 , Issue 3 , June 2017 , pp. 290 - 294
Copyright
© Cambridge University Press 2016 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Jankowiak, WR, Fischer, EF. A cross-cultural perspective on romantic love. Ethnology. 1992; 31(2): 149–155.Google Scholar
2. Marazziti, D, Akiskal, HS, Rossi, A, Cassano, GB. Alteration of the platelet serotonin transporter in romantic love. Psychol Med. 1999; 29(3): 741–745.Google Scholar
3. Aron, A, Fisher, H, Mashek, DJ, Strong, G, Li, H, Brown, LL. Reward, motivation, and emotion systems associated with early-stage intense romantic love. J Neurophysiol. 2005; 94(1): 327–337.Google Scholar
4. Liebowitz, MR. The Chemistry of Love. Boston, MA: Little, Brown & Co; 1983.Google Scholar
5. Porges, SW. Love: an emergent property of the mammalian autonomic nervous system. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 1998; 23(8): 837–861.Google Scholar
6. Fisher, HE, Aron, A, Mashek, D, Li, H, Brown, LL. Defining the brain systems of lust, romantic attraction, and attachment. Arch Sex Behav. 2002; 31(5): 413–419.Google Scholar
7. Marazziti, D. Neurobiology and hormonal aspects of romantic relationships. In: de Haan M, Gunnar MR, eds. Handbook of Developmental Social Neuroscience. New York: Guilford Press; 2009: 265–280.Google Scholar
8. Dundon, CM, Rellini, AH. Emotional states of love moderate the association between catecholamines and female sexual responses in the laboratory. J Sex Med. 2012; 9(10): 2617–2630.Google Scholar
9. de Boer, A, van Buel, EM, Ter Horst, GJ. Love is more than just a kiss: a neurobiological perspective on love and affection. Neuroscience. 2012; 201: 114–124.Google Scholar
10. Insel, TR, Shapiro, LE. Oxytocin receptor distribution reflects social organization in monogamous and polygamous voles. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1992; 89(13): 5981–5985.Google Scholar
11. Insel, TR. A neurobiological basis of social attachment. Am J Psychiatry. 1997; 154(6): 726–735.Google Scholar
12. Carter, CS. Neuroendocrine perspectives on social attachment and love. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 1998; 23(8): 779–818.Google Scholar
13. Paredes, RG, Agmo, A. Has dopamine a physiological role in the control of sexual behavior? A critical review of the evidence. Prog Neurobiol. 2004; 73(3): 179–226.Google Scholar
14. Pfaus, JG. Pathways of sexual desire. J Sex Med. 2009; 6(6): 1506–1533.Google Scholar
15. Bartels, A, Zeki, S. The neural basis of romantic love. Neuroreport. 2000. 27 11(17): 3829–3834.Google Scholar
16. Fisher, H, Aron, A, Brown, LL. Romantic love: an fMRI study of a neural mechanism for mate choice. J Comp Neurol. 2005; 493(1): 58–62.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
17. Ortigue, S, Bianchi-Demicheli, F, Patel, N, Frum, C, Lewis, JW. Neuroimaging of love: fMRI meta-analysis evidence toward new perspectives in sexual medicine. J Sex Med. 2010; 7(11): 3541–3552.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
18. Acevedo, BP, Aron, A, Fisher, HE, Brown, LL. Neural correlates of long-term intense romantic love. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience. 2012; 7(2): 145–159.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
19. Frankhauser, P, Grimmer, Y, Bugert, P, Deuschle, M, Schmidt, M, Schloss, P. Characterization of the neuronal dopamine transporter DAT in human blood platelets. Neurosci Lett. 2006; 399(3): 197–201.Google Scholar
20. Marazziti, D, Baroni, S, Fabbrini, L, et al. Binding of 3H-WIN-35,428 and 125I-RTI 121 to human platelet membranes. Neurochem Res. 2006; 31(3): 361–365.Google Scholar
21. Marazziti, D, Dell’Osso, B, Baroni, S, et al. Common alterations in the serotonin transporter in platelets and lymphocytes of psychotic patients. Pharmacopsychiatry. 2006; 39(1): 35–38.Google Scholar
22. Marazziti, D, Baroni, S, Catena Dell’Osso, M, et al. Presence and characterization of the dopamine transporter in human resting lymphocytes. Neurochem Res. 2008; 33(6): 1011–1016.Google Scholar
23. Giros, B, Jaber, M, Jones, SR, Wightman, RM, Caron, MG. Hyperlocomotion and indifference to cocaine and amphetamine in mice lacking the dopamine transporter. Nature. 1996; 379(6566): 606–612.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
24. Boja, JW, Carroll, FI, Vaughan, RA, Kopajtic, T, Kuhar, MJ. Multiple binding sites for [125I]RTI-121 and other cocaine analogs in rat frontal cerebral cortex. Synapse. 1998; 30(1): 9–17.Google Scholar
25. Sabol, SZ, Nelson, ML, Fisher, C, et al. A genetic association for cigarette smoking behavior. Health Psychol. 1999; 18(1): 7–13.Google Scholar
26. Gelernter, J, Kranzler, HR, Satel, SL, Rao, PA. Genetic association between dopamine transporter protein alleles and cocaine-induced paranoia. Neuropsychopharmacology. 1994; 11(3): 195–200.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
27. Guo, G, Tong, Y, Xie, CW, Lange, LA. Dopamine transporter, gender, and number of sexual partners among young adults. Eur J Hum Genet. 2007; 15(3): 279–287.Google Scholar
28. Amenta, F, Bronzetti, E, Cantalamessa, F, et al. Identification of dopamine plasma membrane and vesicular transporters in human peripheral blood lymphocytes. J Neuroimmunol. 2001; 117(1–2): 133–142.Google Scholar
29. Mc Pherson, GA. A collection of radioligand binding analysis programs. In:. Lowry, Kinetic, Ebda, Ligand. Cambridge, UK: Biosoft; 1985; 14: 213–218.Google Scholar
30. Gordon, J, Barnes, NM. Lymphocytes transport serotonin and dopamine: agony or ecstasy? Trends Immunol. 2003; 24(8): 438–443.Google Scholar
31. Marazziti, D, Consoli, G, Masala, I, Catena Dell’Osso, M, Baroni, S. Latest advancements on serotonin and dopamine transporters in lymphocytes. Mini Rev Med Chem. 2010; 10(1): 32–40.Google Scholar
32. Marazziti, D, Landi, P, Baroni, S, et al. The role of platelet/lymphocyte serotonin transporter in depression and beyond. Curr Drug Targets. 2013; 14(5): 522–530.Google Scholar
33. Faraj, BA, Olkowski, ZL, Jackson, RT. A cocaine-sensitive active dopamine transport in human lymphocytes. Biochem Pharmacol. 1995; 50(7): 1007–1014.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
34. Bergquist, J, Tarkowski, A, Ekman, R, Ewing, A. Discovery of endogenous catecholamines in lymphocytes and evidence for catecholamine regulation of lymphocyte function via an autocrine loop. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1994; 91(26): 12912–12916.Google Scholar
35. Caronti, B, Calderaro, C, Passarelli, F, Palladini, G, Pontieri, FE. Dopamine receptor mRNAs in the rat lymphocytes. Life Sci. 1998; 62(21): 1919–1925.Google Scholar
36. Takahashi, K, Mizuno, K, Sasaki, AT, et al. Imaging the passionate stage of romantic love by dopamine dynamics. Front Hum Neurosci. 2015; 9: 191.Google Scholar
37. Gottfried, JA, O’Doherty, J, Dolan, RJ. Encoding predictive reward value in human amygdala and orbitofrontal cortex. Science. 2003; 301(5636): 1104–1107.Google Scholar
38. Baskerville, TA, Douglas, AJ. Dopamine and oxytocin interactions underlying behaviors: potential contributions to behavioral disorders. CNS Neurosci Ther. 2010; 16(3): e92–e123.Google Scholar
39. Borsini, F, Evans, K, Jason, K, Rohde, F, Alexander, B, Pollenter, S. Pharmacology of flibanserin. CNS Drug Rev. 2002; 8(2): 117–142.Google Scholar
40. Caronti, B, Antonini, G, Calderaro, C, et al. Dopamine transporter immunoreactivity in peripheral blood lymphocytes in Parkinson’s disease. J Neural Transm (Vienna). 2001; 108(7): 803–807.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
41. Pellicano, C, Buttarelli, FR, Circella, A, et al. Dopamine transporter immunoreactivity in peripheral blood lymphocytes discriminates Parkinson’s disease from essential tremor. J Neural Transm. 2007; 114(7): 935–938.Google Scholar
42. Buttarelli, FR, Circella, A, Pellicano, C, Pontieri, FE. Dopamine transporter immunoreactivity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Eur J Neurol. 2006; 13(4): 416–418.Google Scholar
43. Burkett, JP, Young, LJ. The behavioural, anatomical and pharmacological parallels between social attachment, love and addiction. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2012; 224(1): 1–26.Google Scholar
44. Marazziti, D. “Beyond emotion: love as an encounter of myth and drive” by Lubomir Lamy. Emotion Review. 2015; 8(2): 110–112.Google Scholar