6-[18F]fluoro-L-dopa metabolism in MPTP-treated monkeys: assessment of tracer methodologies for positron emission tomography

Brain Res. 1991 Mar 15;543(2):271-6. doi: 10.1016/0006-8993(91)90037-v.

Abstract

6-[18F]Fluoro-L-DOPA (FDOPA) is an L-DOPA analog that is used to assess the functional integrity of central dopaminergic systems in vivo with positron emission tomography (PET). FDOPA metabolites from putamen of normal and MPTP-treated monkeys were characterized to correlate FDOPA metabolism changes with those of the endogenous dopamine system. In MPTP-lesioned putamen, 6-[18F]fluorodopamine and dopamine levels were less than 2% those of controls. Increases in endogenous dopamine metabolism were reflected by similar increases in 6-[18F]fluorodopamine metabolites. These results suggest that changes in the central dopamine system biochemistry can be monitored in vivo with FDOPA and PET.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • 1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine / pharmacology*
  • 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Brain Chemistry / drug effects
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Dihydroxyphenylalanine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Dihydroxyphenylalanine / metabolism
  • Dopamine / metabolism
  • Female
  • Homovanillic Acid / metabolism
  • Macaca nemestrina
  • Male
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed

Substances

  • 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid
  • fluorodopa F 18
  • Dihydroxyphenylalanine
  • 1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine
  • Dopamine
  • Homovanillic Acid