Françoise Vaufrey

Early N-Acetylaspartate Depletion Is a Marker of Neuronal Dysfunction in Rats and Primates Chronically Treated with the Mitochondrial Toxin 3-Nitropropionic Acid:

N-acetylaspartate (NAA) quantification by 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy has been commonly used to assess in vivo neuronal loss in neurodegenerative disorders. Here, the authors used ex vivo and in vivo1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy in rat and primate models of progressive striatal degeneration induced by the mitochondrial toxin 3-nitropropionate (3NP) to determine whether early NAA depletions could also be associated with neuronal dysfunction. In rats that were treated for 3 days with 3NP and had motor symptoms, the authors found a significant decrease in NAA concentrations, specifically restricted to the striatum. No cell loss or dying cells were found at this stage in these animals. After 5 days of 3NP treatment, a further decrease in striatal NAA concentrations was observed in association with the occurrence of dying neurons in the dorsolateral striatum. In 3NP-treated primates, a similar striatal-selective and early decrease in NAA concentrations was observed after only a few weeks of neurotoxic treatment, without any sign of ongoing cell death. This early decrease in striatal NAA was partially reversed after 4 weeks of 3NP withdrawal. These results demonstrate that early NAA depletions reflect a reversible state of neuronal dysfunction preceding cell degeneration and suggest that in vivo quantification of NAA 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy may become a valuable tool for assessing early neuronal dysfunction and the effects of potential neuroprotective therapies in neurodegenerative disorders.

Decreased TCA cycle rate in the rat brain after acute 3-NP treatment measured by in vivo 1H-[13C] NMR spectroscopy.

Inhibition of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) by the mitochondrial toxin 3‐nitropropionic acid (3‐NP) has gained acceptance as an animal model of Huntingtons disease. In this study 13C NMR spectroscopy was used to measure the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle rate in the rat brain after 3‐NP treatment. The time course of both glutamate C4 and C3 13C labelling was monitored in vivo during an infusion of [1‐13C]glucose. Data were fitted by a mathematical model to yield the TCA cycle rate (Vtca) and the exchange rate between α‐ketoglutarate and glutamate (Vx). 3‐NP treatment induced a 18% decrease in Vtca from 0.71 ± 0.02 µmol/g/min in the control group to 0.58 ± 0.02 µmol/g/min in the 3‐NP group (p < 0.001). Vx increased from 0.88 ± 0.08 µmol/g/min in the control group to 1.33 ± 0.24 µmol/g/min in the 3‐NP group (p < 0.07). Fitting the C4 glutamate time course alone under the assumption that Vx is much higher than Vtca yielded Vtca=0.43 µmol/g/min in both groups. These results suggest that both Vtca and Vx are altered during 3‐NP treatment, and that both glutamate C4 and C3 labelling time courses are necessary to obtain a reliable measurement of Vtca.

Synthesis of a [6-Pyridinyl-18F]-labelled fluoro derivative of WAY-100635 as a candidate radioligand for brain 5-HT1A receptor imaging with PET

In recent years, considerable effort has been spent on the design, synthesis and pharmacological characterization of radiofluorinated derivatives of the 5-HT(1A) receptor antagonist, WAY-100635, for the in vivo study of these receptors in human brain with PET. (Pyridinyl-6)-fluoro- and (pyridinyl-5)-fluoro-analogues of WAY-100635 (6-fluoro and 5-fluoro-WAY-100635, 5a/6a) were synthesized as well as the corresponding chloro-, bromo- and nitro-derivatives as precursors for labelling (5b-d and 6b-d). Comparative radiolabelling of these precursors with fluorine-18 (positron-emitting isotope, 109.8 min half-life) clearly demonstrated that only ortho-fluorination in this pyridine series, and not meta-fluorination, is of interest for the preparation of a radioligand by nucleophilic heteroaromatic substitution. 6-[(18)F]Fluoro-WAY-100635 ([(18)F]5a) can be efficiently synthesized in one step, either from the corresponding 6-bromo precursor (using conventional heating at 145 degrees C for 10 min) or from the corresponding 6-nitro precursor (using microwave activation at 100 W for 1 min). Typically, 15-25 mCi (0.55-0.92 GBq) of 6-[(18)F]fluoro-WAY-100635 ([(18)F]5a, 1-2 Ci/micromol or 37-72 GBq/micromol) were obtained in 50-70 min starting from a 100 mCi (3.7 GBq) aliquot of a batch of cyclotron-produced [(18)F]fluoride. This (18)F-labelled radioligand is now being evaluated in PET studies.

In vivo quantification of localized neuronal activation and inhibition in the rat brain using a dedicated high temporal-resolution β+-sensitive microprobe

Understanding brain disorders, the neural processes implicated in cognitive functions and their alterations in neurodegenerative pathologies, or testing new therapies for these diseases would benefit greatly from combined use of an increasing number of rodent models and neuroimaging methods specifically adapted to the rodent brain. Besides magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and functional MR, positron-emission tomography (PET) remains a unique methodology to study in vivo brain processes. However, current high spatial-resolution tomographs suffer from several technical limitations such as high cost, low sensitivity, and the need of restraining the animal during image acquisition. We have developed a β+-sensitive high temporal-resolution system that overcomes these problems and allows the in vivo quantification of cerebral biochemical processes in rodents. This β-MICROPROBE is an in situ technique involving the insertion of a fine probe into brain tissue in a way very similar to that used for microdialysis and cell electrode recordings. In this respect, it provides information on molecular interactions and pathways, which is complementary to that produced by these technologies as well as other modalities such as MR or fluorescence imaging. This study describes two experiments that provide a proof of concept to substantiate the potential of this technique and demonstrate the feasibility of quantifying brain activation or metabolic depression in individual living rats with 2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose and standard compartmental modeling techniques. Furthermore, it was possible to identify correctly the origin of variations in glucose consumption at the hexokinase level, which demonstrate the strength of the method and its adequacy for in vivo quantitative metabolic studies in small animals.

Glycolysis versus TCA cycle in the primate brain as measured by combining 18F-FDG PET and 13C-NMR.

The glycolytic flux (cerebral metabolic rate of glucose CMRglc) and the TCA cycle flux (VTCA) were measured in the same monkeys by 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) and 13C NMR spectroscopy, respectively. Registration of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and PET data were used for comparison of CMRglc and VTCA in the exact same area of the brain. Both fluxes were in good agreement with literature values (CMRglc 0.23 ± 0.03 μmol/g min, VTCA = 0.53 ± 0.13 μmol/gmin). The resulting [CMRglc/VTCA] ratio was 0.46 ± 0.12 (n = 5, mean ± s.d.), not significantly different from the 0.5 expected when glucose is the sole fuel that is completely oxidized. Our results provide a cross-validation of both techniques. Comparison of CMRglc with VTCA is in agreement with a metabolic coupling between the TCA cycle and glycolysis under normal physiologic conditions.

NMR measurement of brain oxidative metabolism in monkeys using 13C-labeled glucose without a 13C radiofrequency channel

We detected glutamate C4 and C3 labeling in the monkey brain during an infusion of [U‐13C6]glucose, using a simple 1H PRESS sequence without 13C editing or decoupling. Point‐resolved spectroscopy (PRESS) spectra revealed decreases in 12C‐bonded protons, and increases in 13C‐bonded protons of glutamate. To take full advantage of the simultaneous detection of 12C‐ and 13C‐bonded protons, we implemented a quantitation procedure to properly measure both glutamate C4 and C3 enrichments. This procedure relies on LCModel analysis with a basis set to account for simultaneous signal changes of protons bound to 12C and 13C. Signal changes were mainly attributed to 12C‐ and 13C‐bonded protons of glutamate. As a result, we were able to measure the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle flux in a 3.9 cm3 voxel centered in the monkey brain on a whole‐body 3 Tesla system (VTCA = 0.55 ± 0.04 μmol.g−1.min−1, N = 4). This work demonstrates that oxidative metabolism can be quantified in deep structures of the brain on clinical MRI systems, without the need for a 13C radiofrequency (RF) channel. Magn Reson Med 52:33–40, 2004.

Synthesis of a fluorine-18-labelled derivative of 6-nitroquipazine, as a radioligand for the in vivo serotonin transporter imaging with PET.

Considerable efforts have been engaged in the design, synthesis and pharmacological characterization of radioligands for imaging the serotonin transporter, based on its implication in several neuropsychiatric diseases, such as depression, anxiety and schizophrenia. In the 5-halo-6-nitroquipazine series, the fluoro derivative has been designed for positron emission tomography (PET). The corresponding 5-iodo-, 5-bromo- and 5-chloro N-Boc-protected quipazines as labelling precursors, as well as 5-fluoro-6-nitroquipazine as a reference compound have been synthesized. 5-[(18)F]Fluoro-6-nitroquipazine has been radiolabelled with fluorine-18 (positron-emitting isotope, 109.8 min half-life) by nucleophilic aromatic substitution from the corresponding N-Boc protected 5-bromo- and 5-chloro-precursors using K[(18)F]F-K(222) complex in DMSO by conventional heating (145 degrees C, 2 min) or microwave activation (50 W, 30-45 s), followed by removal of the protective group with TFA. Typically, 15-25 mCi (5.5-9.2 GBq) of 5-[(18)F]fluoro-6-nitroquipazine (1-2 Ci/micromol or 37-72 GBq/micromol) could be obtained in 70-80 min starting from a 550-650 mCi (20.3-24.0 GBq) aliquot of a cyclotron [(18)F]F(-) production batch (2.7-3.8% non decay-corrected yield based on the starting [(18)F]fluoride). Ex vivo studies (biodistribution in rat), as well as PET imaging (in monkey) demonstrated that 5-[(18)F]fluoro-6-nitroquipazine ([(18)F]-1d) readily crossed the blood brain barrier and accumulated in the regions rich in 5-HT transporter (frontal- and posterial cortex, striata). However, the low accumulation of the tracer in the thalamus (rat and monkey) as well as the comparable displacement of the tracer observed with both citalopram, a -HT re-uptake inhibitor and maprotiline, a norepinephrine re-uptake inhibitor (rat), indicate that 5-[(18)F]fluoro-6-nitroquipazine ([(18)F]-1d) does not have the suggested potential for PET imaging of the serotin transporter (SERT).

Semiselective POCE NMR Spectroscopy

A new scheme is proposed to edit separately glutamate C3 and C4 resonances of 1H bound to 13C, in order to resolve these two signals which overlap at intermediate magnetic fields (1.5 T‐3 T), commonly available for human brain studies. The two edited spectra are obtained by combining the individual acquisitions from a four‐scan measurement in two different ways. The four acquisitions correspond to the two steps of the classical POCE scheme combined with another two‐scan module, where the relative phases of the C3 and C4 1H resonances are manipulated using zero quantum and double quantum coherence pathways. This new technique exhibits the same sensitivity as POCE and allows the 13C labeling of C3 and C4 glutamate from [1‐13C]glucose to be monitored separately in the rat brain at 3 T. Magn Reson Med 44:395–400, 2000.

Up-regulation of glutamate concentration in the putamen and in the prefrontal cortex of asymptomatic SIVmac251-infected macaques without major brain involvement

We quantified putamen and prefrontal cortex metabolites in macaques with simian immunodeficiency virus infection and searched for virological and histological correlates. Fourteen asymptomatic macaques infected since 8–78 months (median: 38) were compared with eight uninfected ones. Absolute concentrations of acetate, alanine, aspartate, choline, creatine, GABA, glutamate, glutamine, lactate, myo‐inositol, N‐acetylaspartate, taurine and valine were determined by ex vivo proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Glutamate concentration in the CSF was determined by HPLC. Gliosis was assessed by glial fibrillary acidic protein and CD68 immunohistochemistry. Glutamate concentration was slightly increased in the prefrontal cortex (19%, p = 0.0152, t‐test) and putamen (13%, p = 0.0354, t‐test) of the infected macaques, and was unaffected in the CSF. Myo‐inositol concentration was increased in the prefrontal cortex only (27%, p = 0.0136). The concentrations of glutamate and myo‐inositol in the prefrontal cortex were higher in the animals with marked or intense microgliosis (p = 0.0114). The other studied metabolites, including N‐acetylaspartate, were not altered. Glutamate concentration may thus increase in the cerebral parenchyma in asymptomatic animals, but is not accompanied by a detectable decrease in N‐acetylaspartate concentration (neuronal dysfunction). Thus, there are probably compensatory mechanisms that may limit glutamate increase and/or counterbalance its effects.