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In Vivo Imaging of Dopamine Metabolism and Dopamine Transporter Function in the Human Brain

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Neurotransmitter Transporters

Part of the book series: Neuromethods ((NM,volume 118))

Abstract

Positron emission tomography (PET) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging of the dopamine system allow quantifying specific targets in the living animal and human brain. These methods are thus of great importance for translational brain research and have made it possible to identify and measure neurochemical changes associated with psychiatric disorders for the first time in history. The following chapter focuses on PET and SPECT imaging of psychotic disorders and addresses methods suited for imaging changes in extracellular dopamine levels and their relationship to dopamine metabolism and dopamine transporter function. Specifically, the chapter describes imaging with radiolabeled dopamine precursors (such as [18F]DOPA) and the so-called “competition paradigms,” where a change in extracellular dopamine elicits changes in radioligand binding to dopamine D2/3 receptors. In addition to theoretical background, this chapter provides information on strengths and weaknesses as well as on practical aspects of these methods.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a grant (P23585) of the FWF Austrian Science Fund granted to M.W.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, Vienna, 1090, Austria

    Matthäus Willeit M.D., Ana Popovic, Lucie Bartova, Ulrich Sauerzopf, Martin Bauer & Nicole Praschak-Rieder

  2. Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    Martin Bauer

Authors
  1. Matthäus Willeit M.D.
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  2. Ana Popovic
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  3. Lucie Bartova
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  4. Ulrich Sauerzopf
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  5. Martin Bauer
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  6. Nicole Praschak-Rieder
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Matthäus Willeit M.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Biomedical Center Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany

    Heinz Bönisch

  2. Center of Physiology and Pharmacology Institute of Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    Harald H. Sitte

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Willeit, M., Popovic, A., Bartova, L., Sauerzopf, U., Bauer, M., Praschak-Rieder, N. (2016). In Vivo Imaging of Dopamine Metabolism and Dopamine Transporter Function in the Human Brain. In: Bönisch, H., Sitte, H. (eds) Neurotransmitter Transporters. Neuromethods, vol 118. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-3765-3_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-3765-3_12

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-3763-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-3765-3

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