Organization of Opioid Receptors in Human Brain and Drug Interactions Studied by PET and SPECT Imaging: Implications for Treatment Strategies for Opiate Addiction

Abstract

Positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) are brain imaging techniques that enable the investigation of human neurochemistryin vivo.They can be used to measure receptor parameters (B_max,K_d, binding potential and volume of distribution) and indices (ratio methods) as well as receptor occupancy by drugs. In this article, we review the characteristics of the available ligands for studying brain opioid receptors and the results of studies carried out to date. The possibilities and limitations of using current tools to investigate opioid receptors in human addiction are also discussed.