John L. Musachio

Persistent Dopamine Functions of Neurons Derived from Embryonic Stem Cells in a Rodent Model of Parkinson Disease

The derivation of dopamine neurons is one of the best examples of the clinical potential of embryonic stem (ES) cells, but the long‐term function of the grafted neurons has not been established. Here, we show that, after transplantation into an animal model, neurons derived from mouse ES cells survived for over 32 weeks, maintained midbrain markers, and had sustained behavioral effects. Microdialysis in grafted animals showed that dopamine (DA) release was induced by depolarization and pharmacological stimulants. Positron emission tomography measured the expression of presynaptic dopamine transporters in the graft and also showed that the number of postsynaptic DA D2 receptors was normalized in the host striatum. These data suggest that ES cell‐derived neurons show DA release and reuptake and stimulate appropriate postsynaptic responses for long periods after implantation. This work supports continued interest in ES cells as a source of functional DA neurons.

PET imaging with [11C]PBR28 can localize and quantify upregulated peripheral benzodiazepine receptors associated with cerebral ischemia in rat

Peripheral benzodiazepine receptors (PBRs) are upregulated on activated microglia. We recently developed a promising positron emission tomography (PET) ligand, [11C]PBR28, with high affinity and excellent ratio of specific to nonspecific binding. We assessed the ability of [11C]PBR28 PET to localize PBRs in a rat permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model of neuroinflammation. [11C]PBR28 was intravenously administered to rats at 4 and 7 days after permanent MCAO. In all experiments, arterial blood was sampled for compartmental modeling of regional distribution volumes, and rat brains were sampled after imaging for in vitro [3H]PK 11195 autoradiography and histological evaluation. [11C]PBR28 PET and [3H]PK 11195 autoradiography showed similar areas of increased PBRs, especially in the peri-ischemic core. Results from these in vivo and in vitro methods were strongly correlated. In this first study to demonstrate neuroinflammation in vivo with small animal PET, [11C]PBR28 had adequate sensitivity to localize and quantify the associated increase in PBRs.

Identification and regional distribution in rat brain of radiometabolites of the dopamine transporter PET radioligand [11C]PE2I

PurposeWe aimed to determine the composition of radioactivity in rat brain after intravenous administration of the dopamine transporter radioligand, [11C]PE2I.MethodsPET time-activity curves (TACs) and regional brain distribution ex vivo were measured using no-carrier-added [11C]PE2I. Carrier-added [11C]PE2I was administered to identify metabolites with high-performance liquid radiochromatography (RC) or RC with mass spectrometry (LC-MS and MS-MS). The stability of [11C]PE2I was assessed in rat brain homogenates.ResultsAfter peak brain uptake of no-carrier-added [11C]PE2I, there was differential washout rate from striata and cerebellum. Thirty minutes after injection, [11C]PE2I represented 10.9 ± 2.9% of the radioactivity in plasma, 67.1 ± 11.0% in cerebellum, and 92.5 ± 3.2% in striata, and was accompanied by two less lipophilic radiometabolites. [11C]PE2I was stable in rat brain homogenate for at least 1 h at 37°C. LC-MS identified hydroxylated PE2I (1) (m/z 442) and carboxyl-desmethyl-PE2I (2) (m/z 456) in brain. MS-MS of 1 gave an m/z 442→424 transition due to H2O elimination, so verifying the presence of a benzyl alcohol group. Metabolite 2 was the benzoic acid derivative. Ratios of ex vivo measurements of [11C]PE2I, [11C]1, and [11C]2 in striata to their cognates in cerebellum were 6.1 ± 3.4, 3.7 ± 2.2 and 1.33 ± 0.38, respectively, showing binding selectivity of metabolite [11C]1 to striata.ConclusionRadiometabolites [11C]1 and [11C]2 were characterized as the 4-hydroxymethyl and 4-carboxyl analogs of [11C]PE2I, respectively. The presence of the pharmacologically active [11C]1 and the inactive [11C]2 is a serious impediment to successful biomathematical analysis.