Kentaro Hatano

Vocal identification of speaker and emotion activates differerent brain regions

REGIONAL cerebral blood flow was measured in six healthy volunteers by positron emission tomography during identification of speaker and emotion from spoken words. The speaker identification task activated several audio-visual multimodal areas, particularly the temporal poles in both hemispheres, which may be involved in connecting vocal attributes with the visual representations of speakers. The emotion identification task activated regions in the cerebellum and the frontal lobe, suggesting a functional relationship between those regions involved in emotion. The results suggest that different anatomical structures contribute to the vocal identification of speaker and emotion.

PET tracers for imaging of the dopaminergic system

The dopaminergic system plays a major role in neurological and psychiatric disorders such as Parkinsons disease, Huntingtons disease, tardive dyskinea and schizophrenia. Knowledge on altered dopamine synthesis, receptor densities and status are important for understanding the mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis and therapy of diseases. PET provides a non-invasive tool to investigate these features in vivo, provided the availability of suitable radiopharmaceuticals. To investigate presynaptic function, PET-tracers have been developed to measure dopamine synthesis and transport. For the former the most commonly used tracers are 6-[(18)F]FDOPA and 6-[(18)F]FMT, whereas for the latter several (11)C/(18)F-labeled tropane analogues are being clinically used. Postsynaptically, dopamine exerts actions through several subtypes of the dopamine receptor. The dopamine receptor family consists of 5 subtypes D(1)-D(5). In order to investigate the role of each receptor subtype, selective and high-affinity PET-radioligands are required. For the dopamine D(1)-subtype the most commonly used ligand is [(11)C]SCH 23390 or [(11)C]NNC 112, whereas for the D(2)/D(3)-subtype [(11)C]raclopride is a common tracer. [(18)F]Fallypride is a suitable PET-tracer for the investigation of extrapyramidal D(2)-receptors. For the other subtypes no suitable radioligands have been developed yet. This paper gives an overview of the current status on dopamine PET-tracers and the development of new lead compounds as potential PET-tracers by medicinal chemistry.

Neuroanatomical correlates of the assessment of facial attractiveness.

FRONTAL cortical damage can lead to changes in affective aspects of personality. However, the difficulty of dissociating such abnormalities from cognitive disorders has overshadowed most previous findings. Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was measured with positron emission tomography (PET) while normal subjects were assessing facial attractiveness. Two left frontal regions showed a significant increase in rCBF while assessing facial attractiveness. The increased rCBF in the left anterior frontal cortex correlated with the overall percentage of assessments of a face as unattractive, while that in the left fronto-temporal junction correlated with the percentage of assessments of a face as attractive. These findings provide direct evidence that the left frontal regions are engaged in the assessment of facial attractiveness.

Direct electrophilic radiofluorination of a cyclic RGD peptide for in vivo αvβ3 integrin related tumor imaging

Abstract The association of the α v β 3 integrin with tumor metastasis and tumor related angiogenesis has been suggested. Therefore, by imaging the α v β 3 receptor with PET, information concerning the tumor status could be obtained. Cyclic peptides including the RGD sequence, were radiolabeled by direct electrophilic fluorination with [ 18 F]AcOF. In tumor-bearing mice, the labeled peptides accumulated at the tumor with a high tumor to blood ratio. These findings suggest that an assessment of tumor characteristics may be obtained by using these 18 F-labeled peptides.

Synthesis and preliminary evaluation of [11C]NE-100 labeled in two different positions as a PET σ receptor ligand

N,N-Dipropyl-2-[4-methoxy-3-(2-phenylethoxy)phenyl]ethylamine (NE-100) was labeled with 11C in two different positions by the alkylation of an N-despropyl precursor with [11C]propyl iodide and of an O-desmethyl precursor with [11C]methyl iodide and was evaluated for the potential as a tracer for mapping sigma 1 receptors in the CNS and peripheral organs by PET. Following i.v. injection of [N-propyl-11C]NE-100 or [O-methyl-11C]NE-100 into mice, the two tracers showed similar tissue distribution patterns except for the liver and brain. With the coinjected carrier NE-100 or haloperidol, the uptake of [N-propyl-11C]NE-100 by the liver, pancreas and spleen was significantly decreased at 15 min after injection, whereas the effect was not significant for [O-methyl-11C]NE-100. The coinjection of NE-100 enhanced the brain uptake of the two tracers. Haloperidol also enhanced the brain uptake of [N-propyl-11C]NE-100, but not that of [O-methyl-11C]NE-100. The regional brain distribution assessed with [O-methyl-3H]NE-100 was consistent with the distribution pattern of the sigma receptors. Four sigma drugs reduced the regional brain uptake of [O-methyl-3H]NE-100 to 70%-90% of the control. In an ex vivo autoradiographic study of the rat brain, the uptake of [O-methyl-11C]NE-100 was blocked by carrier NE-100 or haloperidol (53%-59% of the control in the cortex), which suggests a receptor-specific distribution. These results show that [O-methyl-11C]NE-100 has limited potential as a PET ligand for mapping sigma 1 receptors in the peripheral organs and the CNS because of high nonspecific binding.

Radiosynthesis and in vivo evaluation of N-[11C]methylated imidazopyridineacetamides as PET tracers for peripheral benzodiazepine receptors

Imidazopyridineacetoamide 5-8, a series of novel and potentially selective peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (PBR) ligands with affinities comparable to those of known PBR ligands, was investigated. Radiosyntheses of [11C]5, 6, 7 or 8 was accomplished by N-methylation of the corresponding desmethyl precursors with [11C]methyl iodide in the presence of NaH in dimethylformamide (DMF), resulting in 25% to 77% radiochemical yield and specific activitiy of 20 to 150 MBq/nmol. Each of the labeled compounds was injected in ddY mice, and the radioactivity and weight of dissected peripheral organs and brain regions were measured. Organ distribution of [11C]7 was consistent with the known PBR distribution. Moreover, [11C]7 showed the best combination of brain uptake and PBR binding, leading to its high retention in the olfactory bulb and cerebellum, areas where PBR density is high in mouse brain. Coinjection of PK11195 or unlabeled 7 significantly reduced the brain uptake of [11C]7. These results suggest that [11C]7 could be a useful radioligand for positron emission tomography imaging of PBRs.

Extrastriatal Mean Regional Uptake of Fluorine-18-FDOPA in the Normal Aged Brain—An Approach Using MRI-Aided Spatial Normalization

The aim of this study was to define the mean regional 6-[(18)F]fluoro-l-dopa (FDOPA) uptake rate constant (K(i)) values in the striatal and extrastriatal regions of the brain of normal subjects using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-aided spatial normalization of the FDOPA K(i) image and using automatic region of interest (ROI) analysis. Dynamic three-dimensional FDOPA positron emission tomography (PET) and three-dimensional magnetic resonance (MR) images were acquired in 13 aged normal subjects. The FDOPA add image and the K(i) image of each subject were transformed into standard stereotactic space with the aid of individual coregistered MR image. The mean regional K(i) values of the striatal and extrastriatal regions before normalization were compared with the respective values after normalization. Then automatic ROI analysis was performed on the MRI-aided spatially normalized K(i) images of the 13 normal subjects. The K(i) values on original images and those on spatially normalized images were in good agreement, indicating that the spatial normalization technique did not change the regional K(i) values appreciably. Automatic ROI analysis of the spatially normalized FDOPA K(i) images of the normal subjects, showed high K(i) values in ventral and dorsal regions of the midbrain, amygdala, hippocampus, and medial prefrontal cortex, in addition to caudate nucleus and putamen, which correspond to the dopaminergic projections in the brain. Spatial normalization technique helped to establish a database of FDOPA K(i) images of normal subjects and high K(i) values were observed widely besides striatal regions corresponding to the dopaminergic projections in the brain.

Direction of cross‐modal information transfer affects human brain activation: a PET study

The purpose of this study was to determine the functional organization of the human brain involved in cross‐modal discrimination between tactile and visual information. Regional cerebral blood flow was measured by positron emission tomography in nine right‐handed volunteers during four discrimination tasks; tactile–tactile (TT), tactile–visual (TV), visual–tactile (VT), and visual–visual (VV). The subjects were asked either to look at digital cylinders of different diameters or to grasp the digital cylinders with the thumb and index finger of the right hand using haptic interfaces. Compared with the motor control task in which the subjects looked at and grasped cylinders of the same diameter, the right lateral prefrontal cortex and the right inferior parietal lobule were activated in all the four discrimination tasks. In addition, the dorsal premotor cortex, the ventral premotor cortex, and the inferior temporal cortex of the right hemisphere were activated during VT but not during TV. Our results suggest that the human brain mechanisms underlying cross‐modal discrimination have two different pathways depending on the temporal order in which stimuli are presented.

In vivo imaging of microglial activation using a peripheral benzodiazepine receptor ligand: [11C]PK-11195 and animal PET following ethanol injury in rat striatum

ObjectiveTo investigate whether [11C]PK-11195, a specific peripheral benzodiazepine receptors (PBRs) ligand for positron emission tomography (PET), can show activated microglia in a rat brain injury model.MethodsOn day 1, ethanol was injected into the rat’s right striatum (ST) using a stereotaxic operative procedure. On day 3, head magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans for surgically treated rats were performed to evaluate ethanol injury morphologically. On day 4, dynamic PET scans (17 injured rats and 7 non-injured controls) were performed for 60 min with an animal PET scanner under chloral hydrate anesthesia following a bolus injection of [11C]PK-11195 through tail vein. Because PBRs are present throughout the brain, there is no suitable receptor-free reference region. The reference tissue model may not be applicable because of low target to background ratio for low affinity of [11C]PK-11195 to PBRs. We evaluated the PBRs binding with regions of interest (ROIs)-based approach to estimate total distribution volume (V). We used an integral from 0 min to 60 min (V60) as an estimate of V. On the coronal PET image, ROIs were placed on bilateral ST. Differences in right/left ST V60 ratios between lesioned and unlesioned control rats were compared using unpaired t tests. Immunohistochemical staining was performed for confirming the presence of activated microglia following decapitation on the PET experiment day.ResultsThe right/left ST V60 ratios in lesioned rats (1.07 ± 0.08) were significantly higher than those in unlesioned control rats (1.00 ± 0.06, P < 0.05). On immunohistochemical staining, activated microglia were exclusively observed in the injured right ST but not in the noninjured left ST of the injury rats and the bilateral ST of the non-injured control rats.ConclusionsThese results suggest that [11C]PK-11195 PET imaging would be a useful tool for evaluating microglial activation in a rat brain injury model.

Synthesis and evaluation of new imaging agent for central nicotinic acetylcholine receptor α7 subtype.

INTRODUCTION The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) alpha7 subtype (alpha(7) nAChR) is one of the major nAChR subtypes in the brain. We synthesized C-11 labeled alpha(7) nAChR ligands, (R)-2-[(11)C]methylamino-benzoic acid 1-aza-bicyclo[2.2.2]oct-3-yl ester ([(11)C](R)-MeQAA) and its isomer (S)-[(11)C]MeQAA, for in vivo investigation with positron emission tomography (PET). Then, the potential of (R)- and (S)-[(11)C]MeQAA for in vivo imaging of alpha(7) nAChR in the brain was evaluated in mice and monkeys. METHODS The binding affinity for alpha(7) nAChR was measured using rat brain. Biodistribution and in vivo receptor blocking studies were undertaken in mice. Dynamic PET scans were performed in conscious monkeys. RESULTS The affinity for alpha(7) nAChR was 41 and 182 nM for (R)- and (S)-MeQAA, respectively. The initial uptake in the mouse brain was high ([(11)C](R)-MeQAA: 7.68 and [(11)C](S)-MeQAA: 6.65 %dose/g at 5 min). The clearance of [(11)C](R)-MeQAA was slow in the hippocampus (alpha(7) nAChR-rich region) but was rapid in the cerebellum (alpha(7) nAChR-poor region). On the other hand, the clearance was fast for [(11)C](S)-MeQAA in all regions. The brain uptake of [(11)C](R)-MeQAA was decreased by methyllycaconitine (alpha(7) nAChR antagonist) treatment. In monkeys, alpha(7) nAChRs were highly distributed in the thalamus and cortex but poorly distributed in the cerebellum. The high accumulation was observed in the cortex and thalamus for [(11)C](R)-MeQAA, while the uptake was rather homogeneous for [(11)C](S)-MeQAA. CONCLUSIONS [(11)C](R)-MeQAA was successfully synthesized and showed high uptake to the brain. However, since the in vivo selectivity for alpha(7) nAChR was not enough, further PET kinetic analysis or structure optimization is needed for specific visualization of brain alpha(7) nAChRs in vivo.