The historical progression of positron emission tomography research in neuroendocrinology.

• PET quantifies receptor, enzyme and small molecule systems in vivo in the brain. • PET radioligands can measure changes regulated by hormone action in the brain. • This review provides the community with a reference of neuroendocrine PET studies. • Useful for researchers planning future neuroendocrine studies that may involve PET. The rapid and continual development of a number of radiopharmaceuticals targeting different receptor, enzyme and small molecule systems has fostered Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging of endocrine system actions in vivo in the human brain for several decades. PET radioligands have been developed to measure changes that are regulated by hormone action (e.g., glucose metabolism, cerebral blood flow, dopamine receptors) and actions within endocrine organs or glands such as steroids (e.g., glucocorticoids receptors), hormones (e.g., estrogen, insulin), and enzymes (e.g., aromatase). This systematic review is targeted to the neuroendocrinology community that may be interested in learning about positron emission tomography (PET) imaging for use in their research. Covering neuroendocrine PET research over the past half century, researchers and clinicians will be able to answer the question of where future research may benefit from the strengths of PET imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]