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Updated: Aug 17, 2026

A Dual Tracer PET-MRI Protocol for the Quantitative Measure of Regional Brain Energy Substrates Uptake in the Rat
Published on: December 28, 2013
In-vivo quantitative imaging of catecholaminergic nerve terminals in brain and peripheral organs using positron
1NINDS, NIH, Bethesda, Md.
Abstract:
Positron emission tomography (PET), has made possible quantitative imaging of the origins of positron-emitting isotopes, such as 11C and 18F, in intact animals and in humans. Lack of absolute specificity of enzymes, storage mechanisms and transporters allows 11C-or 18F-labelled "false transmitters" to be formed, stored and released from nerve terminals. Discussed are the assumptions, limitations, and advantages of 18F-6-fluoroDOPA, 18F-6-fluorodopamine, 18F-6-fluorometaraminol, and 11C-N-methyl-metaraminol (m-hydroxyephedrine) for PET imaging of dopaminergic nerve terminals in brain or sympathetic innervation in peripheral organs.
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