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Updated: Sep 20, 2026
Longitudinal In Vivo Imaging of the Cerebrovasculature: Relevance to CNS Diseases
Published on: December 6, 2016
New concepts and tools in imaging for the study of neurodegenerative disease
A J Stoessl1, C S Lee, R de la Fuente-Fernandez
1Pacific Parkinson's Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver Hospital & Health Sciences Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada. jstoessl@interchange.ubc.ca
Abstract:
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.
Insights
Existing technologies can detect changes in neurotransmitter and neuroreceptor expression, aiding in disease diagnosis and treatment monitoring. Further research is needed to assess downstream receptor processes.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Current technologies allow for the detection of alterations in neurotransmitter and neuroreceptor expression.
- These detections are valuable for diagnosing diseases, tracking disease progression, and understanding complications from long-term treatments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the utility of existing technologies for assessing neurotransmitter and neuroreceptor expression.
- To discuss the potential of using [11C]raclopride binding to D2 receptors for estimating synaptic dopamine levels.
- To identify the need for novel approaches to assess downstream receptor-mediated processes.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing existing technologies for detecting changes in neurotransmitter and neuroreceptor expression.
- Employing [11C]raclopride PET imaging to assess D2 receptor binding.
- Leveraging the competitive binding of endogenous dopamine to estimate synaptic dopamine levels.
Main Results:
- Established technologies can detect changes in neurotransmitter and neuroreceptor expression.
- [11C]raclopride binding to D2 receptors can be influenced by endogenous dopamine, enabling estimation of synaptic dopamine.
- Current methods are insufficient for assessing processes downstream of receptor interactions.
Conclusions:
- Detection of neurotransmitter and neuroreceptor expression changes offers significant diagnostic and monitoring capabilities.
- Synaptic dopamine levels can be estimated by analyzing [11C]raclopride competition with endogenous dopamine.
- New methodologies are required to evaluate the functional consequences of receptor binding and downstream signaling pathways.
