Effect of 6-fluoro-m-tyrosine on dopamine release and metabolism in rat striatum using in vivo microdialysis

6-[F-18]Fluoro-m-tyrosine (FMT) is a positron emission tomography (PET) ima ging agent for the aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase enzyme. Its parent c ompound, L-m-tyrosine (LMT) induces behavioral effects in rodents via dopam ine release. To assess the potential pharmacologic effect of FMT, its role in dopamine release and metabolism in rat striatum was compared with LMT an d L-DOPA using in vivo microdialysis. Results indicate that FMT will not ha ve the same dopamine-induced behavioral effects as LMT. (C) 2000 Elsevier S cience B.V. All rights reserved.