F-18-labeled biomolecules for PET studies in the neurosciences

F-18, a positron emitting isotope of fluorine, has a half-life of 110 min a nd a positron energy of 0.635 MeV. Positron emission tomography (PET), in c onjunction with appropriate radiotracers labeled with F-18 has been used to assess functional activity, biochemical transformations and drug pharmacok inetics and pharmacodynamics in the human and animal body. The PET method, F-18-labeling of organic molecules, and some of the applications of F-18-la beled compounds in the neurosciences (brain and heart) are described. (C) 2 000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.