New concepts and tools in imaging for the study of neurodegenerative disease
Stoessl, A.J.; Lee, C.S.; de la Fuente-Fernandez, R.
Journal of Neural Transmission. Supplementum 2003(65): 157-166
2003
ISSN/ISBN: 0303-6995 PMID: 12946054 Document Number: 561254
Existing technologies permit the detection of changes in neurotransmitter and/or neuroreceptor expression. This may be useful for diagnosis, for monitoring disease progression, and for assessing the pathogenesis of complications associated with long-term treatment. Although the binding of (11C)raclopride to D2 receptors is subject to competition from endogenous dopamine, this can be exploited to estimate changes in synaptic levels of dopamine. Assessment of processes downstream to the receptor will require the development of new approaches.