A pre-positron emission tomography study of L-3,4-dihydroxy-[3H]phenylalanine distribution in the rat.
The distribution of L-3,4-dihydroxy-[3H]phenylalanine (L-[3H]DOPA) was examined in rats following i.v. injection, to ascertain the possible usefulness of using this ligand to image dopaminergic systems using positron emission tomography. It was found that L-DOPA and its metabolites were preferentially localized in the basal ganglia as compared to other brain regions, and that this preferential localization could be abolished by lesioning of the nigro-striatal tract. The parameters of the L-DOPA uptake and the sensitivity of this uptake to alterations in dopaminergic pathways indicate that this ligand may be useful in visualizing aberrations in dopaminergic pathways in various pathological conditions.
D000818:Animals; D001058:Apomorphine / Q000494:pharmacology; D001345:Autoradiography; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000378:metabolism; D003891:Desipramine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D006892:Hydroxydopamines / Q000494:pharmacology; D007980:Levodopa / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D016627:Oxidopamine; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000378:metabolism; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed
D006892:Hydroxydopamines; D007980:Levodopa; D016627:Oxidopamine; D001058:Apomorphine; D003891:Desipramine; D004298:Dopamine