Citalopram: labelling with carbon-11 and evaluation in rat as a potential radioligand for in vivo PET studies of 5-HT re-uptake sites

Autoradiographic imaging of the serotonin transporter in the brain of rats and pigs using S-([18F]fluoromethyl)-(+)-McN5652

The [18F]fluoromethyl analogue of (+)-McN5652 ([18F]FMe-McN) has recently been developed as a radioligand for imaging the neuronal serotonin transporter (SERT) with positron emission tomography (PET). We describe here the autoradiographic evaluation of [18F]FMe-McN in the brain of rats and pigs. Autoradiographic studies of [18F]FMe-McN performed on rat and pig brain in vitro showed a high accumulation of radioactivity in the regions rich in SERT, such as amygdala, hypothalamus, superficial gray layer of the superior colliculus, various nuclei of thalamus and substantia nigra. The binding of [18F]FMe-McN was reduced by citalopram, a highly selective inhibitor for SERT. Similar regional specific binding densities of [18F]FMe-McN were observed in both species. The regional distribution and specific binding of this radiotracer correlates well with the distribution and regional brain binding of [3H]citalopram. Region-to-cerebellum ratios of [18F]FMe-McN in vitro reached a maximum value of 20.6 in the rat and 14.5 in the pig. In addition, ex vivo autoradiography of the rat brain was performed 90 min after i.v. administration of [18F]FMe-McN. The highest regional uptake of [18F]FMe-McN was observed in the hypothalamic area, substantia nigra and amygdaloid area. There is a high correlation between the in vitro and in vivo binding. The region-to-cerebellum ratio in vivo reached a maximum value of 5.1 in the substantia nigra, the highest yet reported for an 18F-labelled SERT tracer in vivo in this region. Furthermore, the distribution volume of [18F]FMe-McN calculated from the PET data in various regions of the porcine brain is highly correlated with the SERT density as determined by in vitro autoradiography with [3H]citalopram. Thus, [18F]FMe-McN has a clear potential as a radiotracer for studies of the SERT distribution in man with PET.

Comparative evaluation in nonhuman primates of five PET radiotracers for imaging the serotonin transporters: [11C]McN 5652, [11C]ADAM, [11C]DASB, [11C]DAPA, and [11C]AFM

The recent introduction of a number of new radiotracers suitable for imaging the serotonin transporters (SERT) has radically changed the field of SERT imaging. Whereas, until recently, only one selective SERT radiotracer was available ([11C]McN 5652) for SERT imaging with positron emission tomography (PET), several new C-11-labeled radiotracers of the -dimethyl-2-(arylthio)benzylamine class have been described as appropriate imaging agents for the SERT. The aim of this study was to conduct a comparative evaluation of four of the most promising agents in this class ([11C]ADAM, [11C]DASB, [11C]DAPA, and [11C]AFM) with the reference tracer [11C]McN 5652 under standardized experimental conditions. This evaluation included in vitro measurements of affinity and lipophilicity, and in vivo PET imaging experiments in baboons. In vitro, DASB displayed significantly lower affinity for SERT than the other four tracers. In the blood, [11C]DASB and [11C]AFM display faster clearance and higher free fractions. Brain uptake was analyzed with kinetic modeling using a one-tissue compartment model and the metabolite-corrected arterial input function. The kinetic uptake of [11C]DASB was significantly faster compared with the other compounds, and the scan duration required to derive time-independent estimates of regional distribution volumes was shorter. [11C]DAPA exhibited the slowest brain kinetic. Regional-specific-to-nonspecific equilibrium partition coefficient (V3") was the highest for [11C]AFM, followed by [11C]DASB and [11C]DAPA, which in turn provided higher V3" values than [11C]ADAM and [11C]McN 5652. From these experiments, two ligands emerged as superior radiotracers that provide a significant improvement over [11C]McN 5652 for PET imaging of SERT: [11C]DASB, because it enables the measurement of SERT availability in a shorter scanning time, and [11C]AFM, because its higher signal-to-noise ratios provide a more reliable measurement of SERT availability in brain regions with relatively low density of SERT, such as in the limbic system.

Quantitative analysis for estimating binding potential of the brain serotonin transporter with [11 C]McN5652

[11C](+)McN5652 is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor with subnanomolar potency for the serotonin transporter, and is currently being used for positron emission tomography studies. However, quantification of the regional [11C](+)McN5652 binding potential in vivo is a controversial issue because of its complex characteristics. The authors examined the regional differences in nonspecific binding and proposed simple methods for estimating the binding potential of [11C](+)McN5652. The regional difference in nonspecific binding was evaluated by the activity ratio of the thalamus compared with the cerebellum for inactive-isomer [11C](-)McN5652 and [11C](+)McN5652 saturation studies. The distribution volume of the thalamus was approximately 1.16 times larger than that of the cerebellum. The thalamus-to-cerebellum distribution volume ratio was estimated by nonlinear least square and graphical methods, with and without arterial input function. The graphical method with k2; without blood sampling was practical and most applicable for estimation of the distribution volume ratio because this method is more stable than the nonlinear least square method in the simulation study. Binding potential estimated with the distribution volume ratio of [11C](+)McN5652 and the correction with distribution volume ratio of [11C](-)McN5652 represent the most reliable parameters for the assessment of serotonin transporter binding.

Synthesis of S-([18F]fluoromethyl)-(+)-McN5652 as a potential PET radioligand for the serotonin transporter

The present study describes the synthesis of the [18F]fluoromethyl analogue of (+)-McN5652 ([18F]FMe-McN) as a new potential tracer for the serotonin transporter. In vitro binding studies have shown that FMe-McN displays only slightly lower affinity for the serotonin transporter (K(i) = 2.3 +/- 0.1 nM) than (+)-McN5652 (K(i) = 0.72 +/- 0.2 nM). The radiofluorinated tracer [18F]FMe-McN was prepared by reaction of normethyl (+)-McN5652 with the fluoromethylation agent [18F]bromofluoromethane in an overall radiochemical yield of 5 +/- 1% (decay-corrected, related to [18F]fluoride) and with high specific radioactivity (200-2,000 GBq/micromol at the end of synthesis).

[125I]5-iodo-6-nitroquipazine: a potent and selective ligand for the 5-hydroxytryptamine uptake complex. II. In vivo studies in rats

The in vivo regional distribution and pharmacological profile of [125I]5-iodo-6-nitroquipazine in the rat brain were studied to evaluate this compound as a potential in vivo imaging agent of the 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin or 5-HT) uptake complex. This radioligand penetrated the blood-brain barrier quickly and efficiently, with 1.9% of injected dose found in the whole brain at 5 min post i.v. injection. The regional brain distribution of radioactivity at time points later than 2 h was highly correlated with the known distribution of serotonin uptake sites and terminals. Coadministration of 2 mg/kg paroxetine inhibited > 90% of the total in vivo binding of [125I]5-iodo-6-nitroquipazine. Other serotonin uptake inhibitors, such as fluoxetine and sertraline, were also effective inhibitors of [125I]5-iodo-6-nitroquipazine brain binding in vivo. Non-serotonergic uptake blockers (desipramine, nomifensine, and GBR-12909) and the postsynaptic serotonin receptor agent LSD had no effect on [125I]5-iodo-6-nitroquipazine binding in vivo even at high doses. Lesioning of the serotonergic system by p-chloramphetamine produced approximately 90% decrease in specific in vivo binding. Extraction and analysis of brain radioactivity indicated that approximately 95% of the extractable radioactivity was unmetabolized [125I]5-iodo-6-nitroquipazine. These results indicate that [125I]5-iodo-6-nitroquipazine is a specific, useful radioligand for studying serotonergic uptake sites and terminals in animals, and an 123I-radiolabeled form of the drug would be an excellent candidate for non-invasive single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging of these sites in the living human brain.