Receptor autoradiography and 2-deoxyglucose techniques in neuroscience

The use of the receptor autoradiography and 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) techniques in neuroscience are reviewed. Receptors and other binding sites can be visualized autoradiographically in microtome tissue sections after labelling with radioligand in vivo or in vitro. Autoradiograms are generated by apposition of the labelled tissue to photographic emulsions. Combined with computerized image analysis, this technique can be used to analyse and quantify the microscopic distribution of receptors and receptor alterations associated with lesions or disease in human and animal tissues. The 2-DG technique permits microscopic analysis of modifications in brain glucose utilization induced by physiological and pharmacological manipulations. Limitations of these techniques and attempts to optimize their resolution are also discussed.