Cerebral Metabolism of 6–[18F]Fluoro‐l‐3,4‐Dihydroxyphenylalanine in the Primate
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Abstract: The tracers 6‐[18F]fluoro‐1‐3,4‐dihydroxyphenyl‐alanine (6–[18F]fluoro‐l‐DOPA) and 1‐[14C]DOPA were injected simultaneously into rhesus monkeys, and the time course of their metabolites was measured in the striatum and in the occipital and frontal cortices. In the striatum, 6‐[18F]fluoro‐L‐DOPA was metabolized to 6–[18F]fluorodo‐pamine, 3,4‐dihydroxy‐6–[18F]fluorophenylaceticacid, and 6–[18F]fluorohomovanillic acid. The metabolite pattern was qualitatively similar to that of 1‐[14C]DOPA. 6–[18F]Fluorodopamine was synthesized faster than [14C]do‐pamine. In the frontal cortex, the major metabolite was also 6–[18F]fluorodopamine or [14C]dopamine. In the occipital cortex, the major metabolite was 3‐O‐methyl‐6–[18F]fluoro‐L‐DOPA. On the basis of these data, the images obtained with 6–[l8F]fluoro‐l‐DOPA and positron emission tomography in humans can now be interpreted in neurochemical terms.
