Classics in Neuroimaging: Development of PET Tracers for Imaging Monoamine Oxidases

High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide In this Viewpoint, we highlight the history of positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracer development to quantify changes in monoamine oxidase (MAO)-A and -B enzyme expression or activity. MAO-A and MAO-B are critical for understanding monoaminergic pathways in psychiatric addiction disorders, and more recently in neurodegenerative disorders with MAO-B expression in astrogliosis. Unique radiochemical innovations have been shown for neuroimaging of MAOs including the clinical translation of irreversible propargylamine-based suicide inhibitors, application of deuterium-substitution to slow down metabolism, development of trapped metabolite imaging agents, and unique 11C-carbonylation chemistry toward novel high-affinity reversibly binding inhibitors