Dopamine transporter imaging agents

Recently, the development of " Tc-labcled tropane derivatives used as dopamine transporter imaging agents has been reported. The dopamine transporter is a protein complex located prcsynaptically at dopaminergic nerve terminals [247]. It is depleted in Parkinson s disease, and the extent of depletion correlates with the loss of dopamine [248], Among a series of tropane derivatives [249,250] labeled with " Tc, two compounds deserve more attention. 

Meltzer, P. C.,Blundell, P., Jones,A. G. etal. A technetium-99m SPECT imaging agent which targets the dopamine transporter in primate brain. J. Med. Chem. 40 1835-1844, 1997. 

Altropane and ioflupane bind L-dopamine transporter protein. They are being developed, respectively, as potential contrast agent for radioimaging and imaging... 

Figure 12.11. Radioligands for dopamine neurons. The se include [ F] -labeled dopa and nonhydro-lyzable, long-acting phenyltropane analogs of cocaine, which bind selectively to the dopamine transporter proteins and are highly specific markers of dopamine neurpns. These agents are useful for imaging with C F] for PET and for SPECT.

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