PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

L Farde

Publications and source records attributed to L Farde.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PET examination of three potent cocaine derivatives as specific radioligands for the serotonin transporter.

Several positron emission tomography (PET) radioligands based on the aryl tropane structure have been used for studies on monoamine reuptake sites. RTI-364, RTI-330, and RTI-357 (3-beta-(4'-n-propyl-,4'-iso-propyl-, and 4'-iso-propenyl-phenyl)nortropane-2-beta-carboxylic acid methyl ester) are three recently synthesized cocaine analogues with higher affinity for the serotonin (5-HTT) than the dopamine transporter (DAT). Unlabelled RTI-364 and RTI-330 were prepared in a two-step synthesis. The key step was the addition of the appropriate propyl Grignard reagent to anhydroecgonine methyl ester. RTI-357 was prepared in a three-step synthesis with a palladium-catalyzed coupling reaction of beta-CIT and isopropenylzinc bromide as key step. Hydrolysis of the ester functions gave the carboxylic acid analogues of RTI-364, RTI-330, and RTI-357, which were labelled with 11C using [11C]methyl iodide in dimethyl formamide (DMF) and tetrabutylammonium hydroxide (TBAH) as base. All three compounds entered the monkey brain in a high degree (approximately 5-10%). There was a low uptake of [11C]RTI-364 in serotonin-rich brain areas, whereas [11C]RTI-330 and [11C]RTI-357 showed a marked uptake of radioactivity in the thalamus and the brainstem, regions known to contain serotonin transporters. Transient equilibrium was reached at 15 and 40 min for [11C]RTI-330 and [11C]RTI-357, respectively. After pretreatment with citalopram, the ratio of radioactivity in the thalamus and the brainstem to the cerebellum were markedly reduced for [11C]RTI-357 but not for [11C]RTI-330. The results indicate that [11C]RTI-357 is a potential PET radioligand for quantitation of the serotonin reuptake site.

Animals↗

Carbon-11 epidepride: a suitable radioligand for PET investigation of striatal and extrastriatal dopamine D2 receptors.

Epidepride [(S)-(-)-N-([1-ethyl-2-pyrrolidinyl]methyl)-5-iodo-2,3-dimethoxybenza mide] binds with a picomolar affinity (Ki = 24 pM) to the dopamine D2 receptor. Iodine-123-labeled epidepride has been used previously to study striatal and extrastriatal dopamine D2 receptors with single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Our aim was to label epidepride with carbon-11 for comparative quantitative studies between positron emission tomography (PET) and SPECT. Epidepride was synthesized from its bromo-analogue FLB 457 via the corresponding trimethyl-tin derivative. In an alternative synthetic pathway, the corresponding substituted benzoic acid was reacted with the optically pure aminomethylpyrrolidine-derivative. Demethylation of epidepride gave the desmethyl-derivative, which was reacted with [11C]methyl triflate. Total radiochemical yield was 40-50% within a total synthesis time of 30 min. The specific radioactivity at the end of synthesis was 37-111 GBq/micromol (1,000-3,000 Ci/mmol). Human postmortem whole-hemisphere autoradiography demonstrated dense binding in the caudate putamen, and also in extrastriatal areas such as the thalamus and the neocortex. The binding was inhibited by unlabeled raclopride. PET studies in a cynomolgus monkey demonstrated high uptake in the striatum and in several extrastriatal regions. At 90 min after injection, uptake in the striatum, thalamus and neocortex was about 11, 4, and 2 times higher than in the cerebellum, respectively. Pretreatment experiment with unlabeled raclopride (1 mg/kg) inhibited 50-70% of [11C]epidepride binding. The fraction of unchanged [11C]epidepride in monkey plasma determined by a gradient high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was about 30% of the total radioactivity at 30 min after injection of [11C]epidepride. The availability of [11C]epidepride allows the PET-verification of the data obtained from quantitation studies with SPECT.

Autoradiography↗

Characterization of bromine-76-labelled 5-bromo-6-nitroquipazine for PET studies of the serotonin transporter.

The development of suitable radioligands for brain imaging of the serotonin transporter is of great importance for the study of depression and other affective disorders. The potent and selective serotonin transporter ligand, 5-iodo-6-nitro-2-piperazinylquinoline, has been labelled with iodine-123 and used as a radioligand for single photon emission computerized tomography. To evaluate the potential of the bromine-76-labelled analogue, 5-bromo-6-nitroquipazine, as a radioligand for positron emission tomography (PET), its brain distribution and binding characteristics were examined in rats. In vivo brain distribution and ex vivo autoradiography demonstrated that [76Br]5-bromo-6-nitroquipazine enters the brain rapidly. The regional brain distribution of [76Br]5-bromo-6-nitroquipazine was consistent with the known distribution of serotonin transporters in the midbrain, pons, thalamus, striatum, and neocortex. Specific binding was inhibited by the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor citalopram. The peripheral metabolism in plasma was rapid, but more than 90% of the radioactivity in brain represented unchanged radioligand 2 h postinjection (p.i.). A preliminary PET study was also performed in a baboon. Following the intravenous injection of [76Br]5-bromo-6-nitroquipazine in a baboon, there was a conspicuous accumulation of radioactivity in thalamus, striatum, and pons. The radioactivity in these brain regions was 1.5 times higher than in the cerebellum at 3 h and 2.5-4 times higher at 24 h. A rapid metabolism of the radioligand in plasma was observed (38% unchanged after 5 min). The results indicate that [76Br]5-bromo-6-nitroquipazine has potential for PET imaging of the serotonin transporter.

Animals↗

Polymorphisms in the dopamine D2 receptor gene and their relationships to striatal dopamine receptor density of healthy volunteers.

The density of striatal dopamine D2 receptors has been shown to vary considerably among healthy subjects. This variability might be due to genetic or environmental factors. In the present analysis we searched for relationships between dopamine D2 receptor gene (DRD2) polymorphisms and striatal dopamine D2 receptor density in vivo, as measured by positron emission tomography and [11C]raclopride in 56 healthy subjects. There was a significant association between presence of a putative functional DRD2 promoter allele (-141C Del) and high striatal dopamine receptor density (t= 2.32, P= 0.02). In agreement with some previous studies the presence of the DRD2 TaqIA1 allele was associated with measures of low dopamine receptor density (t=2.58, P=0.01). Also the DRD2 TaqIB1 allele was associated with low dopamine receptor density (t= 2.58, P= 0.01) wheras there was no significant relationship between another common silent intronic DRD2 short tandem repeat polymorphism (STRP) and striatal dopamine D2 receptor density. The results suggest that DRD2 genotypes may participate differentially in the regulation of striatal dopamine D2 receptor density in healthy human subjects. The results should be interpreted with caution because of the limited sample size.

Adult↗

Quantification of [11C]FLB 457 binding to extrastriatal dopamine receptors in the human brain.

Positron emission tomography (PET) has hitherto been used to examine D2 dopamine receptor binding in the striatum, a region with a high density of receptors. Research has been hampered by the lack of suitable radioligands for detection of the low-density D2 dopamine receptor populations in the limbic and cortical dopamine systems that are implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. [11C]FLB 457 is a new radioligand with the very high affinity of 20 pmol/L (K(i)) for the D2 and D3 dopamine receptor subtypes. This study in eight healthy subjects was designed to evaluate the suitability of [11C]FLB 457 for quantification of extrastriatal D2/D3 dopamine receptors. PET-data were acquired in the three-dimensional mode and the arterial input function was corrected for labeled metabolites. The standard three-compartment model and four derived approaches were applied to calculate and compare the binding potentials. Besides the striatum, conspicuous radioactivity was found in extrastriatal regions such as the thalamus, the anterior cinguli, and the temporal and frontal cortices. The time activity curves could be described by the three compartment model. The different approaches gave similar binding potential values and the rank order between regions was consistent with that found in vitro. The short time of a PET measurement using [11C]FLB 457 (63 minutes) seemed not to be sufficient for reliable determination of the high binding potential in the striatum. These results are of principal importance because they show the potential for PET quantification of minute receptor populations in the human brain.

Adult↗

Brain uptake and plasma metabolism of [11C]vinpocetine: a preliminary PET study in a cynomolgus monkey.

Vinpocetine, a vinca alkaloid, is a widely used therapeutic agent in patients with acute and chronic stroke. To reveal the mechanisms of vinpocetine action in the brain, vinpocetine was labeled with 11C. Positron emission tomography (PET) was used to determine the uptake and distribution of [11C]vinpocetine in brain regions and the trunk of a cynomolgous monkey in two independent measurements. The concentration of vinpocetine and its labeled metabolites was determined in blood and plasma using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Almost identical measurements were obtained in the two independent studies. After intravenous administration, following an initial peak, the total concentration of radioactivity in blood was relatively stable with time, whereas the concentration of the unchanged compound decreased with time in an exponential manner. The uptake of [11C]vinpocetine in brain was rapid, and 5% of the radioactivity totally injected was present in the brain 2 minutes after drug administration, indicating that the compound entered the brain readily. The radioactivity uptake was heterogeneously distributed among brain regions and was highest in the thalamus, the basal ganglia, and certain neocortical regions. The high brain uptake and the heterogeneous regional distribution indicate that direct central nervous system (CNS) effects of vinpocetine must be considered as explanation for the therapeutic effects. The detailed exploration of this suggestion requires further studies.

Animals↗

Suggested minimal effective dose of risperidone based on PET-measured D2 and 5-HT2A receptor occupancy in schizophrenic patients.

OBJECTIVE: Multicenter trials with the novel antipsychotic risperidone have suggested a standard dose of 6 mg/day. However, a dose producing the highest response rate in fixed-dose studies is likely to exceed the minimal effective dose in most patients. The aim of this positron emission tomography (PET) study was to suggest a minimal effective dose of risperidone based on measurements of dopamine D2 and serotonin 5-HT2A receptor occupancy. METHOD: Eight first-episode or drug-free schizophrenic patients were treated with risperidone, 6 mg/day, for 4 weeks and then 3 mg/day for 2 weeks. PET was performed after 4 and 6 weeks, with [11C]raclopride to measure D2 receptor occupancy and [11C]N-methylspiperone to measure 5-HT2A receptor occupancy. RESULTS: Seven patients completed the study and responded to treatment with risperidone. No patient had extrapyramidal side effects at the time of inclusion in the study. At the 6-mg/day dose, mean D2 receptor occupancy was 82% (range = 79%-85%), 5-HT2A receptor occupancy was 95% (range = 86%-109%), and six patients had developed extrapyramidal side effects. After dose reduction to 3 mg/day, D2 receptor occupancy was 72% (range = 53%-78%), and 5-HT2A receptor occupancy was 83% (range = 65%-112%). Three patients had extrapyramidal side effects at this time. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with risperidone, 6 mg/day, is likely to induce unnecessarily high D2 receptor occupancy, with a consequent risk of extrapyramidal side effects. High 5-HT2A receptor occupancy did not prevent extrapyramidal side effects completely. The authors previously suggested an optimal interval for D2 receptor occupancy of 70%-80%. To achieve this, resperidone, 4 mg/day, should be a suitable initial dose for antipsychotic effect with a minimal risk of extrapyramidal side effects in most patients.

Adult↗

Localization of 5-HT1A receptors in the living human brain using [carbonyl-11C]WAY-100635: PET with anatomic standardization technique.

UNLABELLED: Serotonergic 5-hydroxytryptamine-1A (5-HT1A) receptors are of interest in the pathophysiology of several neuropsychiatric disorders such as anxiety, depression and schizophrenia. [Carbonyl-11C]WAY-100635 has recently been shown to be suitable for quantitative determination of 5-HT1A receptors in the human brain using PET. For group comparisons of neuroreceptor distribution on a pixel-by-pixel basis, an anatomic standardization technique is required. In the current study, we have built a database of normal 5-HT1A receptor distribution using [carbonyl-11C]WAY-100635 and an anatomic standardization technique. METHOD: A PET examination lasting 63 min was performed on six subjects after intravenous injection of [carbonyl-11C]WAY-100635. The radioactivity of the PET images were integrated in the interval 12-63 min and normalized by the radioactivity of the cerebellum, providing a measure of the binding potential (BP) in each pixel. Each PET image was transformed into a standard brain anatomy using a computerized brain atlas system. From the standardized PET images, the sample mean and the SD of the BP were calculated in each pixel. RESULT: On the anatomically standardized average image, high BP was observed in the cerebral cortices, hippocampus and raphe nucleus, whereas low BP was observed in the basal ganglia and thalamus. This regional distribution is in good agreement with the distribution of 5-HT1A receptors known from in vitro studies. CONCLUSION: The anatomic standardization technique permits building of a database of the normal 5-HT1A receptor distribution in the living human brain. This technique can be applied for group comparisons of neuroreceptor distribution on a pixel-by-pixel basis.

Adult↗

Iodine-123 labeled nor-beta-CIT as a potential tracer for serotonin transporter imaging in the human brain with single-photon emission tomography.

Iodine-123 labelled 2beta-carbomethoxy-3beta-(4-iodophenyl) (nor-beta-CIT) is an analogue of beta-CIT, which has high affinity to the serotonin transporter. Initial single-photon emission tomography (SPET) studies with [123I]nor-beta-CIT were performed in five healthy volunteers. In addition, its metabolism in plasma was investigated with gradient high performance liquid chromatography. [123I]nor-beta-CIT was prepared by a method which gave a specific radioactivity of more than 180 GBq/micromol. Unchanged [123I]nor-beta-CIT in plasma accounted for 43% and 19% of total radioactivity after 30 and 180 min, respectively. The dynamic SPET studies demonstrated a high and rapid uptake of radioactivity in the brain (6%/ID at 30 min). Highest accumulation was observed in the striatum, the mid-brain and the thalamus. The specific binding in the mid-brain was 33% higher compared with that of [123I]beta-CIT. The high radioactivity in the mid-brain is assumed to represent the accumulation of [123I]nor-beta-CIT in the serotonin transporter-rich regions, which indicates that [123I]nor-beta-CIT might be a potential tracer for visualization of serotonin transporter sites in the human brain with SPET.

Adult↗

[carbonyl-11C]Desmethyl-WAY-100635 (DWAY) is a potent and selective radioligand for central 5-HT1A receptors in vitro and in vivo.

[carbonyl-11C]Desmethyl-WAY-100635 (DWAY) is possibly a low-level metabolite appearing in plasma after intravenous administration of [carbonyl-11C]WAY-100635 to human subjects for positron emission tomographic (PET) imaging of brain 5-HT1A receptors. In this study we set out to assess the ability of DWAY to enter brain in vivo and to elucidate its possible interaction with 5-HT1A receptors. Desmethyl-WAY-100635 was labelled efficiently with carbon-11 (t1/2 = 20.4 min) in high specific radioactivity by reaction of its descyclohexanecarbonyl analogue with [carbonyl-11C]cyclohexanecarbonyl chloride. The product was separated in high radiochemical purity by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and formulated for intravenous injection. Rats were injected intravenously with DWAY, sacrificed at known times and dissected to establish radioactivity content in brain tissues. At 60 min after injection, the ratios of radioactivity concentration in each brain region to that in cerebellum correlated with previous in vitro and in vivo measures of 5-HT1A receptor density. The highest ratio was about 22 in hippocampus. Radioactivity cleared rapidly from plasma; HPLC analysis revealed that DWAY represented 55% of the radioactivity in plasma at 5 min and 33% at 30 min. Only polar radioactive metabolites were detected. Subsequently, a cynomolgus monkey was injected intravenously with DWAY and examined by PET. Maximal whole brain uptake of radioactivity was 5.7% of the administered dose at 5 min after injection. The image acquired between 9 and 90 min showed high radioactivity uptake in brain regions rich in 5-HT1A receptors (e.g. frontal cortex and neocortex), moderate uptake in raphe nuclei and low uptake in cerebellum. A transient equilibrium was achieved in cortical regions at about 60 min, when the ratio of radioactivity concentration in frontal cortex to that in cerebellum reached 6. The corresponding ratio for raphe nuclei was about 3. Radioactive metabolites appeared rapidly in plasma, but these were all more polar than DWAY, which represented 52% of the radioactivity in plasma at 4 min and 20% at 55 min. In a second PET experiment, in which a cynomolgus monkey was pretreated with the selective 5-HT1A receptor antagonist, WAY-100635, at 25 min before DWAY injection, radioactivity in all brain regions was reduced to that in cerebellum. Autoradiography of post mortem human brain cryosections after incubation with DWAY successfully delineated 5-HT1A receptor distribution. Receptor-specific binding was eliminated in the presence of the selective 5-HT1A receptor agonist, 8-OH-DPAT [(+/-)-8-hydroxy-2-dipropylaminotetralin]. These findings show that: (a) intravenously administered DWAY is well able to penetrate brain in rat and monkey, (b) DWAY is a highly effective radioligand for brain 5-HT1A receptors in rat and monkey in vivo and for human brain in vitro, and (c) the metabolism and kinetics of DWAY appear favourable to successful biomathematical modelling of acquired PET data. Thus, DWAY warrants further evaluation as a radioligand for PET studies of 5-HT1A receptors in human brain.

Animals↗

Pharmacokinetics and dosimetry of iodine-123 labelled PE2I in humans, a radioligand for dopamine transporter imaging.

The iodine-123 labelled selective ligand N-(3-iodoprop-2E-enyl)-2-beta-carbomethoxy-3beta-(4-methylphenyl) nortropane ([123I]PE2I) was evaluated as a probe for in vivo dopamine transporter imaging in the human brain. Six healthy subjects were imaged with a high-resolution single-photon emission tomography scanner. Striatal radioactivity peaked at 1 h after injection. The background radioactivity was low. The volume of distribution in the striatum was 94+/-24 ml/ml. The results were compared with those of [123I]beta-CIT imaging. There was no significant uptake of [123I]PE2I in serotonin-rich regions such as the midbrain, hypothalamus and anterior gingulus, suggesting that in vivo binding is specific for the dopamine transporter. One main polar metabolite of [123I]PE2I was found in plasma, and the parent plasma concentration decayed rapidly. Radiation exposure to the study subject is 0.022+/-0.004 mSv/MBq (effective dose). The preliminary results suggest that [123I]PE2I is a selective SPET ligand for imaging striatal dopamine transporter density.

Adult↗

Evaluation and metabolite studies of 125I- and 123I-labelled E-(R,R)-IQNP: potential radioligands for visualization of M1 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in brain.

A new ligand for the M1 muscarinic receptor subtype, E-(R,R)-1-azabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-3-yl alpha-hydroxy-alpha-(1-iodo-1-propen-3-yl)-alpha-phenylacetate (E-IQNP), was labelled with 125I and 123I for autoradiographic studies on human whole-brain cryosections and SPET studies, respectively, in Cynomolgus monkey. Autoradiography demonstrated E-[125I]IQNP binding in M1 receptor-rich regions such as the neocortex and the striatum. The binding was displaceable by the selective M1 antagonist biperiden. In vivo single photon emission tomography (SPET) studies with E-[123I]IQNP demonstrated a high accumulation of radioactivity in the monkey neocortex. Rapid hydrolysis of the quinuclidinyl ester to the free acid was found to be a major biotransformation route for E-[123I]IQNP. The free acid of E-[123I]IQNP does not pass the blood-brain barrier, but the plasma concentration was high as compared to the total radioactivity in brain. It is thus necessary to correct for the high concentration of radioactive metabolites in parenchymal blood (CBV) to obtain accurate values for E-[123I]IQNP binding in brain.

Animals↗

Characterisation of the appearance of radioactive metabolites in monkey and human plasma from the 5-HT1A receptor radioligand, [carbonyl-11C]WAY-100635--explanation of high signal contrast in PET and an aid to biomathematical modelling.

N-(2-(4-(2-Methoxy-phenyl)-1-piperazin-1-yl)ethyl)-N-(2-pyridyl)++ +cyclohexanecarboxamide (WAY-100635), labelled in its amido carbonyl group with 11C (t1/2 = 20.4 min), is a promising radioligand for the study of brain 5-HT1A receptors with positron emission tomography (PET). Thus, in PET experiments in six cynomolgus monkeys and seven healthy male volunteers, [carbonyl-11C]WAY-100635 was taken up avidly by brain. Radioactivity was retained in regions rich in 5-HT1A receptors, such as occipital cortex, temporal cortex and raphe nuclei, but cleared rapidly from cerebellum, a region almost devoid of 5-HT1A receptors. [Carbonyl-11C]WAY-100635 provides about 3- and 10-fold higher signal contrast (receptor-specific to nonspecific binding) than [O-methyl-11C]WAY-100635 in receptor-rich areas of monkey and human brain, respectively. To elucidate the effect of label position on radioligand behaviour and to aid in the future biomathematical interpretation of the kinetics of regional cerebral radioactivity uptake in terms of receptor-binding parameters, HPLC was used to measure [carbonyl-11C]WAY-100635 and its radioactive metabolites in plasma at various times after intravenous injection. Radioactivity cleared rapidly from monkey and human plasma. Parent radioligand represented 19% of the radioactivity in monkey plasma at 47 min and 8% of the radioactivity in human plasma at 40 min. [Carbonyl-11C]desmethyl-WAY-100635 was below detectable limits in monkey plasma and at most a very minor radioactive metabolite in human plasma. [11C]Cyclohexanecarboxylic acid was identified as a significant radioactive metabolite. In human plasma this maximally represented 21% of the radioactivity at 10 min after radioligand injection. All other major radioactive metabolites in monkey and human plasma were even more polar. No-carrier-added [carbonyl-11C]cyclohexanecarboxylic acid was prepared in the laboratory and after intravenous administration into cynomolgus monkey was shown with PET to give only a low uptake of radioactivity into brain tissue. The acid rapidly gave rise to several radioactive metabolites of higher polarity in plasma. The observed lack of any significant metabolism of [carbonyl-11C]WAY-100635 to highly lipophilic or pharmacologically potent radioactive compounds is consistent with its high signal contrast in primate brain.

Animals↗

Toxicity, mutagenicity, and behavioral effects of beta-CIT, a ligand for dopamine transporter exploration by SPECT.

The cocaine analog beta-CIT is one of the most used compounds for SPET examination of the dopamine transporter in drug abuse and Parkinson's disease. However, the toxicity of this agent has not yet been studied. We report here acute toxicity, mutagenicity, and effect on locomotor activity of beta-CIT. Acute toxicity experiments were performed in mice and rats. The LD50 values were about 20 mg and 5 mg for mice and rats, respectively. There was no sex difference. The mutagenicity was evaluated using the Ames' test. No mutagenic effect was observed for beta-CIT. Effects on locomotor activity were measured in mice using the open-field test. beta-CIT increased locomotion (+65%) when injected at a dose of 0.312 mg/kg; the maximal increase (+205%) was observed at a dose of 1.25 mg/kg; at higher doses, the effect was decreased slightly. These pharmacological findings are in agreement with an inhibitory effect of beta-CIT at the dopamine transporter. We conclude that with no mutagenic effects and LD50 more than 6 orders of magnitude higher than the routinely used doses in PET or SPET, it can be assumed that beta-CIT can be safely used as a radioligand in humans.

Animals↗

[11C]NNC 22-0215, a metabolically stable dopamine D1 radioligand for PET.

NNC 22-0215 has been found to be a metabolically stable dopamine D1 antagonist with high affinity and selectivity for D1 receptors in vitro. We prepared [11C]NNC 22-0215 with a specific radioactivity of about 50 GBq/micromol at time of administration. In PET experiments with [11C]NNC 22-0215 there was a rapid uptake of radioactivity in the cynomolgus monkey brain (1.8% of total radioactivity injected). Radioactivity accumulated most markedly in the striatum and the neocortex. The striatum to cerebellum ratio was about 4, with specific binding that remained at a plateau level from 50 min to 100 min after injection. Binding in the striatum and neocortex was markedly displaced by SCH 23390, whereas binding in the cerebellum was not reduced. Metabolite studies showed that about 80% of the radioactivity in the monkey plasma represented unchanged radioligand 30 min after injection. The rate of metabolism in monkey plasma in vivo was also determined for a series of structurally related 11C-labelled benzazepines, previously used as dopamine D1 receptor ligands for PET. Results indicate a significantly slower rate of metabolism for [11C]NNC 22-0215 than for any of the previously labelled benzazepines. Thus [11C]NNC 22-0215 has potential for imaging of selective binding to the dopamine D1 receptors in the human brain with high count rates at time of equilibrium.

Animals↗

Whole hemisphere autoradiography of the postmortem human brain.

Whole hemisphere autoradiography (WHA) with selective high-affinity radioligands is a new tool in studying the distribution of receptors and of other neuronal components postmortem in brains from controls vs. subjects with psychiatric and neurologic diseases. WHA can be performed with several different isotopes (e.g., 3H, 125I, and 11C), and is in addition to characterization studies also used as a tool in early radioligand development. Moreover, using this technique, high-resolution images are obtained that are complementary to those obtained in vivo with e.g., PET and SPECT. Results on dopamine and serotonin receptor subtypes as well as of their transporters show that WHA is a very suitable technique for the detailed characterization of the distribution in the whole human brain.

Animals↗

Comparison of the transient equilibrium and continuous infusion method for quantitative PET analysis of [11C]raclopride binding.

Several approaches have been applied for quantification of D2 dopamine receptors in positron emission tomography studies using [11C]raclopride. Initial approaches were based on analyses of data obtained after rapid bolus injection of [11C]raclopride. A continuous infusion paradigm has more recently been applied. The current study compares these approaches in healthy men. Two positron emission tomography measurements were performed in each of six healthy men, the first with rapid bolus injection and the second with continuous infusion of [11C]raclopride. In rapid bolus injection, the binding potential was calculated by the following methods. One approach is the kinetic analysis using the standard three-compartment model. Another is to define a transient equilibrium at the moment when the specific binding reaches its maximum. In continuous infusion, binding potential was calculated by using time-activity data at equilibrium condition. All methods gave almost identical binding potential, representing cross-validation of these methods. The continuous infusion method can provide "true" equilibrium condition. The kinetic analysis is a sophisticated approach but requires determination of an arterial input function. The transient equilibrium method thus is suitable for routine clinical research, since it does not require determination of an arterial input function.

Adult↗