A wireless beta-microprobe based on pixelated silicon for in vivo brain studies in freely moving rats

Dynamic neuroreceptor positron emission tomography in non-anesthetized rats using point source based motion correction: A feasibility study with [11C]ABP688

To prevent motion artifacts in small animal positron emission tomography (PET), animals are routinely scanned under anesthesia or physical restraint. Both may potentially alter metabolism and neurochemistry. This study investigates the feasibility of fully awake acquisition and subsequent absolute quantification of dynamic brain PET data via pharmacokinetic modelling in moving rats using the glutamate 5 receptor radioligand [11C]ABP688 and point source based motion correction. Five male rats underwent three dynamic [11C]ABP688 PET scans: two test-retest awake PET scans and one scan under anesthesia for comparison. Specific radioligand binding was determined via the simplified reference tissue model (reference: cerebellum) and outcome parameters BPND and R1 were evaluated in terms of stability and reproducibility. Test-retest measurements in awake animals gave reliable results with high correlations of BPND (y = 1.08 × -0.2, r = 0.99, p < 0.01) and an acceptable variability (mean over all investigated regions 15.7 ± 2.4%). Regional [11C]ABP688 BPNDs under awake and anesthetized conditions were comparable although in awake scans, absolute radioactive peak uptakes were lower and relative blood flow in terms of R1 was higher. Awake small animal PET with absolute quantification of neuroreceptor availability is technically feasible and reproducible thereby providing a suitable alternative whenever effects of anesthesia are undesirable, e.g. in sleep research.

MicroPET Outperforms Beta-Microprobes in Determining Neuroreceptor Availability under Pharmacological Restriction for Cold Mass Occupancy

Both non-invasive micro-positron emission tomography (μPET) and in situ beta-microprobes have the ability to determine radiotracer kinetics and neuroreceptor availability in vivo. Beta-microprobes were proposed as a cost-effective alternative to μPET, but literature revealed conflicting results most likely due to methodological differences and inflicted tissue damage. The current study has three main objectives: (i) evaluate the theoretical advantages of beta-microprobes; (ii) perform μPET imaging to assess the impact of (beta-micro)probe implantation on relative tracer delivery (R1) and receptor occupancy (non-displaceable binding potential, BP_ND) in the rat brain; and (iii) investigate whether beta-microprobe recordings produce robust results when a pharmacological restriction for cold mass dose (tracer dose condition) is imposed. We performed acquisitions (n = 61) in naive animals, dummy probe implanted animals (outer diameter: 0.75 and 1.00 mm) and beta-microprobe implanted animals (outer diameter: 0.75 mm) using two different radiotracers with high affinity for the striatum: [¹¹C]raclopride (n = 29) and [¹¹C]ABP688 (n = 32). In addition, acquisitions were completed with or without an imposed restriction for cold mass occupancy. We estimated BP_ND and R1 values using the simplified reference tissue method (SRTM). [¹¹C]raclopride dummy μPET BP_ND (0.75 mm: −13.01 ± 0.94%; 1.00 mm: −13.89 ± 1.20%) and R1 values (0.75 mm: −29.67 ± 4.94%; 1.00 mm: −39.07 ± 3.17%) significantly decreased at the implant side vs. the contralateral intact side. A similar comparison for [¹¹C]ABP688 dummy μPET, demonstrated significantly (p < 0.05) decreased BP_ND (−19.09 ± 2.45%) and R1 values (−38.12 ± 6.58%) in the striatum with a 1.00 mm implant, but not with a 0.75 mm implant. Particularly in tracer dose conditions, despite lower impact of partial volume effects, beta-microprobes proved unfit to produce representative results due to tissue destruction associated with probe insertion. We advise to use tracer dose μPET to obtain accurate results concerning receptor availability and tracer delivery, keeping in mind associated partial volume effects for which it is possible to correct.

Mechanistic models enable the rational use of in vitro drug-target binding kinetics for better drug effects in patients

INTRODUCTION

Drug-target binding kinetics are major determinants of the time course of drug action for several drugs, as clearly described for the irreversible binders omeprazole and aspirin. This supports the increasing interest to incorporate newly developed high-throughput assays for drug-target binding kinetics in drug discovery. A meaningful application of in vitro drug-target binding kinetics in drug discovery requires insight into the relation between in vivo drug effect and in vitro measured drug-target binding kinetics.

AREAS COVERED

In this review, the authors discuss both the relation between in vitro and in vivo measured binding kinetics and the relation between in vivo binding kinetics, target occupancy and effect profiles.

EXPERT OPINION

More scientific evidence is required for the rational selection and development of drug-candidates on the basis of in vitro estimates of drug-target binding kinetics. To elucidate the value of in vitro binding kinetics measurements, it is necessary to obtain information on system-specific properties which influence the kinetics of target occupancy and drug effect. Mathematical integration of this information enables the identification of drug-specific properties which lead to optimal target occupancy and drug effect in patients.