Fast chemical synthesis of [75Se]L-selenomethionine

Gamma camera imaging for studying intestinal absorption and whole-body distribution of selenomethionine

Se metabolism in humans is not well characterised. Currently, the estimates of Se absorption, whole-body retention and excretion are being obtained from balance and tracer studies. In the present study, we used gamma camera imaging to evaluate the whole-body retention and distribution of radiolabelled selenomethionine (SeMet), the predominant form of Se present in foods. A total of eight healthy young men participated in the study. After consumption of a meal containing 4 MBq [75Se]l-SeMet ([75Se]SeMet), whole-body gamma camera scanning was performed for 45 min every hour over a 6 h period, every second hour for the next 18 h and once on each of the subsequent 6 d. Blood, urine and faecal samples were collected to determine the plasma content of [75Se]SeMet as well as its excretion in urine and faeces. Imaging showed that 87·9 (sd 3·3) % of the administered activity of [75Se]SeMet was retained within the body after 7 d. In contrast, the measured excretion in urine and faeces for the 7 d period was 8·2 (sd 1·1) % of the activity. Time–activity curves were generated for the whole body, stomach, liver, abdomen (other than the stomach and the liver), brain and femoral muscles. Gamma camera imaging allows for the assessment of the postprandial absorption of SeMet. This technique may also permit concurrent studies of organ turnover of SeMet.

Alternative syntheses of [73,75Se]selenoethers exemplified for homocysteine[73,75Se]selenolactone

The present work describes two radiosynthetic pathways to prepare homocysteine[75Se]selenolactone 1 starting from n.c.a. [75Se]selenite 2. It was achieved either by alkylation reaction of n.c.a. methyl[75Se]selenide 4 or by hydrolysis of alkylated 1,3-dicyclohexyl[75Se]selenourea 11.

N.c.a. methyl[75Se]selenide 4 is available using sulfur as non-isotopic carrier. However, the radiochemical yield of the substitution of 2-tert.-butoxycarbonylamino-4-bromobutyric acid ethylester 5 with n.c.a. methyl-[75Se]selenide is only in the range of 15-20%. Birch reduction of protected n.c.a. [75Se]selenomethionine 6 formed leads to a RCY of 5-10% homocysteine[75Se]selenolactone 1.

Alternatively, the synthesis of homocysteine[75Se]selenolactone 1 is possible by hydrolysis of the corresponding [75Se]selenouronium salt 11 available by addition of 2-tert.-butoxycarbonylamino-4-bromobutyric acid ethylester 5 to 1,3-dicyclohexyl[75Se]selenourea 10. A method was developed for the synthesis of 1,3-dicyclohexyl[75Se]selenourea 10 by addition of c.a. [75Se]SeH2 to 1,3-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, which leads to 20-30% RCY of c.a. homocysteine[75Se]selenolactone 1.

Effects of chemical species of selenium on maternal transfer during pregnancy and lactation

AIMS

This study compares the transfer from mother to fetuses and pups of selenium (Se) in the form of selenite, selenate, and selenomethionine (SeMet) labeled with different homo-elemental isotopes.

MAIN METHODS

To completely substitute endogenous Se with natural abundance with Se enriched with a single stable isotope (82Se), female Wistar rats delivered by mother fed 82Se-selenite were fed Se-deficient diet and drinking water containing 82Se-selenite immediately after weaning, and then mated with male Wistar rat at the age of 15-17 weeks. The pregnant rats were divided into two groups. One group was fed Se-deficient diet and drinking water containing 76Se-selenite, 78Se-selenate, and 77Se-SeMet from gestation days 11 to 20. The other group was fed the same diet and drinking water containing the three Se species after delivery for 10 days of lactation. Non-pregnant rats were also fed Se mixture and Se-deficient diet for 10 days.

KEY FINDING

Tissue and plasma Se concentrations showed significant changes among non-pregnant, pregnant, and lactating rats. The peak corresponding to selenoprotein P (Sel P) in serum of pregnant rats was reduced. The concentration of 77Se originating from SeMet was higher than those of 76Se from selenite and 78Se from selenate in the stomach content of pups.

SIGNIFICANCE

Inorganic Se species are more preferably transformed into Sel P than SeMet, and Sel P is effectively incorporated into placenta during pregnancy. On the other hand, SeMet is a more efficient Se source than inorganic Se species during lactation.

Simultaneous tracing of multiple precursors each labeled with a different homo-elemental isotope by speciation analysis: Distribution and metabolism of four parenteral selenium sources

The availability, distribution, and metabolism of four typical selenium sources [inorganic selenite and selenate, and organic selenomethionine (SeMet) and methylselenocysteine (MeSeCys)] were compared by administering them simultaneously through a parenteral route. The four selenium sources were each labeled with a different enriched selenium isotope (82Se, 78Se, 77Se, and 76Se, respectively), and administered intravenously at the dose of 25 μg Se/kg body weight each to rats that had been depleted of natural abundance selenium with a single isotope, 80Se, by feeding 80Se-selenite in drinking water and a selenium-deficient diet. At 1 h post-injection, the amounts of the four tracers recovered from major organs and blood comprised around 70, 55, and 50 % of the doses for selenite, MeSeCys and SeMet, and selenate, respectively, being most abundant in the liver. The intact precursors, except for selenite, were recovered from all organs. 77Se and 76Se of SeMet and MeSeCys origin, respectively, were much more efficiently recovered from the pancreas than selenite and selenate, in forms mostly bound to proteins together with intact forms, suggesting that SeMet and MeSeCys are preferentially distributed directly to the pancreas. The incorporations of selenium into selenoprotein P (Sel P) and selenosugars were most efficient from selenite and less efficient from SeMet, suggesting that selenite was most efficiently utilized for the syntheses of selenoproteins and selenosugars. Although selenate was partly excreted into the urine in its intact form, it was retained longer in the plasma in its intact form than the other selenium sources. The advantage of simultaneous administration of multiple precursors each labeled with a different enriched isotope to depleted hosts followed by simultaneous tracing of the labeled isotopes over the conventional method with a single tracer is emphasized together with cautions that may occur with the new multiple tracer method.

The natBr(p,x) (73,75)Se nuclear processes: a convenient route for the production of radioselenium tracers relevant to amino acid labelling

A possible route for the production of no-carrier-added (n.c.a.) 73Se (T(1/2) = 7.1 h) and 75Se (120 d) is introduced. D,L-2-Amino-4-([73Se]methyl-seleno) butanoic acid (D,L-[73Se]selenomethionine) with an overall radiochemical yield of > 40% could be prepared via a 3-step polymer-supported synthesis after successful separation of 73Se from KBr targets. Excitation functions for the natBr(p,x) (72,73,75)Se processes were measured from threshold up to 100 MeV utilizing pellets of pressed KBr. Targets were irradiated at the NAC cyclotron with proton beams having primary energies of 40.4, 66.8 and 100.9 MeV. The calculated 73Se yield (EOB) for 1 h irradiation in 1 microA of beam at the optimum proton energy range of 62-->42 MeV is 81.4 MBq (2.2 mCi), and the calculated 75Se yield (EOB) for the overall range 62 MeV-->threshold for the same irradiation conditions is 0.97 MBq (0.026 mCi).

Chemical processing for production of no-carrier-added selenium-73 from germanium and arsenic targets and synthesis of L-2-amino-4-([73Se]methylseleno) butyric acid (L-[73Se]selenomethionine)

The Ge(4He, xn) and 75As(p, 3n) reactions were compared as the best potential routes for routine production of selenium-73 (73Se) for medical applications. With 26 MeV alpha particles, available with compact cyclotrons, the first reaction required an enriched 70Ge target of sodium metagermanate to give a production yield of 1 mCi/microAh (0.037 GBq/microAh) in a 105 mg/cm2 target. With 55 MeV protons the As(p, 3n) reaction on natural arsenic yielded 20 mCi/microAh (0.74 GBq/microAh) in a 685 mg/cm2 target. A simple method was developed and optimized for both targets in order to isolate and purify the no-carrier-added selenium in the elemental form with a radiochemical yield greater than 75% in less than 90 min. An automated radiochemical processing unit has been designed for the routine production of 100-150 mCi (3.7-5.5 GBq) batches of carrier-free 73Se ready for radiopharmaceutical labeling. 30 mCi (1.11 GBq) (EOS) of L-2-amino-4-([73Se]methylseleno) butyric acid (L-[73Se]selenomethionine) ready for injection with a specific activity of 5 Ci/mmol (185 GBq/mmol) (EOS) were obtained through a fast chemical synthesis. Radiation absorbed dose estimates for L-[73Se]selenomethionine have been determined. A value of 0.70 rem/mCi (0.19 mSv/MBq) administered was calculated for the risk from irradiation in man. The first human PET investigation with [73Se]selenomethionine showed a very good delineation between liver and pancreas.