IMAGING OF DOPAMINE TRANSPORTERS IN HUMANS WITH TC-99M TRODAT-1

Technetium-99m TRODAT-1, a tropane derivative, has shown promise as a tracer for the imaging of dopamine transporters in preliminary studies in rats and baboons. The present report concerns the first study of t he use of [Tc-99m]TRODAT-1 for the same purpose in humans. The specifi c uptake of [Tc-99m]TRODAT-1 in dopamine transporter sites located in the basal ganglia area was confirmed: the best contrast between the ba sal ganglia and the occipital area, which is devoid of dopamine transp orters, was achieved at 120-140 min following injection. The developme nt of a Tc-99m-based agent bypasses the need for cyclotron-produced ra dionuclides, which will be of benefit for routine clinical studies.