Mapping Brain Glutamate in Humans: Sex Differences in Cigarette Smokers

Completed

Conditions studied: Sex, Cigarette Smoking

In brief

The proposed study evaluated sex differences in glutamate (Glu), with a focus on the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC), anterior insula, and thalamus, as well as how it is influenced by sex (males vs. females), smoking state (overnight abstinent vs. sated), and circulating ovarian hormones (estrogen and progesterone) in women. Glu was measured in the entire brain with special focus on the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC), anterior insula, and thalamus, all of which have been implicated in tobacco withdrawal, using an echo-planar spectroscopic imaging (EPSI) variant of magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Serum ovarian hormones (estrogen and progesterone) were measured for female participants to determine relationships between brain Glu and this hormone. Glu was be measured in smokers after overnight (\~12 h) abstinence and after participants smoked the first cigarette of the day.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT05279053

Run by

University of California, Los Angeles

People needed

58

Starts

2021-04-01

Expected to finish

2023-03-31

Last updated by the study team

2026-03-20

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 45. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Self-identified as only male or female
• Age 18-45 years (children <18 years will be excluded due to low prevalence of conventional cigarette smoking; female participants >45 years of age will be excluded to avoid effects of perimenopause and menopause in women; male participants >45 years of age will be excluded as well to ensure that male and female groups are matched on age
• English fluency demonstrated by verbal skills sufficient to participate in a conversation, including the ability to ask and answer questions at a level that assures adequate understanding of the study (a comprehension quiz will be given)
• Right handedness (evaluated using the Edinburgh Inventory)
• Generally in good health without cardiovascular, hepatic, renal, or autoimmune diseases, diabetes, or cancer
• Must have smoked for ≥1 year
• Must endorse inhaling while smoking
• Must smoke ≥10 cigarettes per day
• Must have expired CO >10 ppm and urinary cotinine ≥100 ng/ml at screening/intake
• Fulfillment of DSM-5 criteria for Tobacco Use Disorder

You may not qualify if…

• Seeking treatment for nicotine dependence within 3 months of screening
• Medical condition that may compromise safety (based on history, physical exam)
• Neurological disorder that would compromise compliance and/or informed consent
• Major psychiatric disorder (e.g., Major Depression, Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder) per DSM-5 MINI
• Current drug use disorders other than Tobacco Use Disorder (as defined in DSM-5)
• Recent use of cocaine, opiates, benzodiazepines, or amphetamines as shown by urine test at the screening or testing sessions
• Smoke marijuana >3X/week (self-report) or positive marijuana urine test on a scan day (positive at screening allowed)
• Use of tobacco in forms other than cigarettes (e.g., snuff, chewing tobacco, e-cigarettes) >10 days in the month before screening
• Preference for menthol cigarettes, given sex differences in the effect of menthol on the rate of nicotine entry into the brain
• Pregnancy or nursing
• Presence in the body of metal that would compromise safety during MRI
• Claustrophobia
• Any other condition that would compromise safety

Where it is running

• UCLA Semel Institute — Los Angeles, California, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

Trial information comes from ClinicalTrials.gov and is refreshed daily. TrialsForMe does not provide medical care and does not run the studies it lists.