Figure 2
From: Disrupted iron regulation in the brain and periphery in cocaine addiction
Regional group differences in iron concentration. (a) Group comparison of iron concentration in an region of interest (ROI)-based approach of iron-rich brain regions. CUD patients showed a significant increase in QSM of 14% in the globus pallidus external (GPe), of 11% in the globus pallidus internal (GPi), and a marginal increase of 6% in the substantia nigra. CUD patients further showed a significant reduction in QSM of 13% in the red nucleus; however, the 12% reduction in the putamen was non-significant (for statistical details see Supplementary Material). (b) Excessive iron accumulation in the GPe in CUD patients was significantly associated with the duration of cocaine use. (c) The reduction of iron concentration in the red nucleus in CUD patients was associated with a decrease in iron bound to transferrin in circulating blood. (Error bars denote s.e.m., **P < 0.005 and *P < 0.05). CUD, cocaine use disorder; QSM, quantitative susceptibility maps.
