In Vivo PET and SPECT Receptor Imaging: New Technology and Tactics for Receptor Measurement

  • Dean F. Wong
  • Michael J. Kuhar
Chapter
Part of the Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology book series (AEMB, volume 236)

Abstract

Imaging neurotransmitter receptors has progressed steadily over the past 15 or so years. The earliest studies involved autoradiographic localization following in vivo administration of radiolabelled highly specific, high affinity ligands for specific receptors (Figure 1). Their approach, however, is invasive and therefore applicable to tissues obtained at surgery or at autopsy. Subsequently developed in vitro labelling autoradiographic techniques were more powerful and versatile but still had the limitation of being invasive (1). Thus Positron Emission Tomography (PET) has a remarkable capacity to carry receptor studies to the clinical level (Figure 2). This paper describes some of the advantages of PET and the progress made in several areas. It also shows how PET can be a powerful extension of biochemical, in vitro receptor binding studies in homogenates.

Key Words

Dopamine receptors PET SPECT imaging neuroreceptors 
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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media New York 1988

Authors and Affiliations

  • Dean F. Wong
    • 1
  • Michael J. Kuhar
  1. 1.Johns Hopkins Medical InstitutionsBaltimoreUSA

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