Waterhouse Rikki N, Zhao Jun
Neurobiology and Imaging Program, Department of Biological Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA.
Methods Mol Biol. 2007;399:215-33. doi: 10.1007/978-1-59745-504-6_15.
Noninvasive tomographic imaging methods including positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) are extremely sensitive and are capable of measuring biochemical processes that occur at concentrations in the nanomolar range. Inherent to neurodegenerative processes is neuronal loss. Thus, PET or SPECT monitoring of biochemical processes altered by neuronal loss (changes in neurotransmitter turnover, alterations in receptor, transporter or enzyme concentrations) can provide unique information not attainable by other methods. Such imaging techniques can also be used to longtitudinally monitor the effects of neuroprotective treatments. This review highlights current imaging probes used to evaluate patients with specific neurodegenerative disorders (e.g., Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's Chorea), including those that image receptors of the dopaminergic, cholinergic and glutamatergic systems. Areas of future research focus are also defined. It is clear that monitoring the progression of neurodegenerative disorders and the impact of neuroprotective treatments are two different but related goals for which noninvasive imaging via PET and SPECT methods plays a powerful and unique role.
包括正电子发射断层扫描（PET）和单光子发射计算机断层扫描（SPECT）在内的非侵入性断层成像方法极其灵敏，能够测量纳摩尔浓度下发生的生化过程。神经退行性过程的固有特征是神经元丧失。因此，PET或SPECT监测因神经元丧失而改变的生化过程（神经递质周转变化、受体、转运体或酶浓度改变）能够提供其他方法无法获得的独特信息。此类成像技术还可用于纵向监测神经保护治疗的效果。本综述重点介绍了目前用于评估特定神经退行性疾病（如阿尔茨海默病、帕金森病、亨廷顿舞蹈病）患者的成像探针，包括那些对多巴胺能、胆碱能和谷氨酸能系统受体进行成像的探针。还确定了未来的研究重点领域。显然，监测神经退行性疾病的进展和神经保护治疗的影响是两个不同但相关的目标，PET和SPECT方法的非侵入性成像在其中发挥着强大而独特的作用。
