Osamu Inoue

AGE-RELATED CHANGES IN HUMAN D1 DOPAMINE RECEPTORS MEASURED BY POSITRON EMISSION TOMOGRAPHY

The effects of age on the binding parameters of11C-SCH23390, the highly selective ligand for central D1 dopamine receptors, at specific binding sites in the brain were studied. Seventeen healthy male volunteers (20–72 years old) participated. Regional radioactivity in the brain was followed for 40 min by positron emission tomography (PET). A high accumulation of radioactivity was observed in the striatum and there was a conspicuous accumulation in the neocortex. A two-compartment model was used to obtain quantitative estimates of rate constants of association (k3) and dissociation (k4). The binding potential (k3/k4) of the dopamine D1 receptors in the striatum and frontal cortex decreased by 35% and 39%, respectively, with age. The value of k3 decreased by 58% in the striatum and 83% in the frontal cortex, whereas the value of k4 decreased by 35% in the striatum and 72% in the frontal cortex with age.

D1 dopamine receptor binding in mood disorders measured by positron emission tomography

D1 dopamine receptor binding in mood disorders was studied by positron emission tomography (PET) using11C-SCH23390. Ten patients with bipolar mood disorders and 21 normal controls were studied in the drug-free state. The patients were in euthymic (N=6), depressed (N=3) and manic (N=1) states. Regional radioactivity in the brain was followed for 40 min by PET. A two-compartment model was used to obtain the binding potential (k3/k4) for the striatum and frontal cortex. The binding potentials for the frontal cortex for the patients were significantly lower than those for normal controls, whereas those for striatum were not significantly different. These findings suggest that D1 dopamine receptors in the frontal cortex may be in a different state in patients with bipolar mood disorders.

Computer-controlled large scale production of high specific activity [11C]RO 15-1788 for PET studies of benzodiazepine receptors.

Ethyl 8-fluoro-5,6-dihydro-5-[11C]methyl-6-oxo-4H-imidazo [1,5-a] [1,4]benzodiazepine-3-carboxylate ([11C]RO 15-1788) has been prepared automatically with high specific activity for in vivo visualization or quantitative analysis of brain benzodiazepine receptors. The yield, radiochemical yield, radiochemical purity and specific activity of the product ready for an i.v. injection were 276 +/- 76 mCi, 50.8 +/- 7.8%, 99.3 +/- 0.3% and 2.9 +/- 0.5 Ci/mumol, respectively, taking an average of the latest 3 runs. The time required was about 25 min. Each product was sufficient to carry out three successive clinical studies by positron emission tomography (PET). All the procedures other than evaporation and filtration at the final stage were carried out with specially designed equipment connected to a central control system for radioisotope production.

Synthesis and evaluation of11C-PK 11195 forin vivo study of peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptors using position emission tomography

The biodistribution of3H-PK 11195, an antagonist of the peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptors, was studied in mice. High accumulations of radioactivity in the heart, lung, spleen, kidney and adrenal were observed after intravenous injection of tracer amounts of3H-PK 11195 into the mice. The radioactivity in the heart, lung, spleen, kidney and adrenal was significantly decreased by the coadministration of carrier PK 11195, which indicated that PK 11195 specifically binds to the receptors. No radioactive metabolites were observed in the heart, lung and brain 20 min after intravenous administration of3H-PK 11195. The accumulation of3H-PK 11195 in the lung was not affected by pretreatment with either α-methyl benzylamine or imipramine, suggesting that3H-PK 11195 specifically binds to the receptors. The ratios of radioactivity of the kidney, adrenal and spleen to blood increased as a function of time, whereas that of the lung and heart rapidly reached to a steady state.11C-PK 11195 was synthesized by the N-methylation of desmethyl precursor yielding more than 100 mCi with high specific activity (more than 1.4 Ci/μmol). The labeling and purification procedure was completed within 23 min after the end of bombardment (EOB). The11C-PK 11195 solution for injection seems to have a high potential for thein vivo study of the peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptors in the living human by means of positron emission tomography (PET).

Serotonin 5-HT2 receptors in schizophrenic patients studied by positron emission tomography.

Using positron emission tomography (PET) and [11C]N-methylspiperone (NMSP), we examined 5-HT2 receptors in the cortex of schizophrenic patients in whom we previously observed decreased prefrontal D1 receptor binding. The subjects were 10 neuroleptic-naive schizophrenic patients, 7 schizophrenic patients who were drug-free but had previously been treated with neuroleptics, and 12 normal controls. A non-significant trend towards decreased prefrontal [11C]NMSP binding was observed in the neuroleptic-treated patients, suggesting a possible effect of previous neuroleptic treatment on the alteration in cortical 5-HT2 function. However, the neuroleptic-naive patients showed no noticeable difference in cortical [11C]NMSP binding compared to controls. Our results do not rule out the role of 5-HT2 function as a crucial site of therapeutic activity of schizophrenia, but they do suggest that cortical 5-HT2 receptors might not be primarily involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.

Detection of benzodiazepine receptor occupancy in the human brain by positron emission tomography

Benzodiazepine receptor occupancy in the brain following oral administration of clonazepam (CZP) with a dose of 30 μg/kg in six healthy young men and a further dose of 50 μg/kg in one of the subjects was estimated by carbon-11 labeled Ro15-1788 and positron emission tomography (PET). The effects of CZP on the latency of auditory event-related potentials (P300) were also studied. Overall brain 11C uptake was depressed and the % inhibition of 11C uptake in the gray matter of the brain at 30 min after [11C]Ro15-1788 injection was 15.3–23.5% (mean, n=6) following 30 μg/kg CZP when compared with that in the control experiment without any previous treatment. The 11C uptake in the cerebral cortex in the subject who received both doses decreased in a dose-related manner after 30 μg/kg and 50 μg/kg CZP. The P300 latency was prolonged significantly by 30 μg/kg CZP [31.6±16.3 ms (mean±SD, n=6), P<0.05]. The P300 latency in the same subject was prolonged in a dose-related manner by 30 μg/kg and 50 μg/kg CZP. The technique using [11C]Ro15-1788 and PET permits comparison of the pharmacological effects with the percentage of receptor sites which benzodiazepines occupy in the human brain. P300 also seems to be useful to investigate the pharmacological effects of benzodiazepines.

Age-related changes in human muscarinic acetylcholine receptors measured by positron emission tomography

The effects of age on the binding parameters of [11C]N- methyl-4-piperidylbenzilate ([11C]NMPB), a specific muscarinic cholinergic receptor ligand, were studied. Eighteen healthy male volunteers (18-75 years old) participated. Regional radioactivity in the brain was followed for 60 min by positron emission tomography (PET). Uptake of [11C]NMPB continuously increased in all brain areas with the exception of the cerebellum. For the quantification of receptor binding, a compartment model, in which radioactivity in the cerebellum was used as an input function, was used. The binding parameter, K3, of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in eight brain regions (pons, hippocampus, frontal cortex, striatum, temporal cortex, thalamus, occipital cortex, parietal cortex) showed an age-related decrease of about 45% over the age range.

Production of 3-N-[11C]methylspiperone with high specific activity and high radiochemical purity for PET studies: Suppression of its radiolysis

3-N-[11C]methylspiperone(11C-NMS, molecular weight = 409 for 12C-NMS) has been prepared automatically with high specific activity (37 +/- 18 GBq/mumol at EOS) for the measurement of dopamine D2 receptors in the human brain with a positron camera. It was observed that the radiochemical purity of 11C-NMS decreased from 97.8% (in HPLC eluate) to 83.5% (in saline, after the dispensing procedure, at 29 min from EOS), and to 79.9% in a further 59 min and that another 11C-labelled compound with a molecular weight of 425 (as a 12C-labelled compound) was formed. It was also observed that an aqueous solution of carrier methylspiperone (NMS) decomposed on 60Co irradiation and, using the same analytical conditions, gave the compound with the same retention time and the same molecular weight as 11C-NMS gave. The G-value of NMS decomposition by 60Co irradiation was estimated to be about two in an aqueous solution. The decomposition of 11C-NMS was suppressed remarkably by the addition of hydroxyl radical scavengers such as potassium iodide, and accelerated slightly by a hydrated electron scavenger such as sodium nitrate. Therefore, it was assumed that the hydroxyl radical generated by the radiolysis of water played an important role in the decomposition of 11C-NMS in the aqueous solution. Polysolvate-80 and ethyl alcohol were used as i.v. injectable additives to protect 11C-NMS against decomposition. In 47 routine productions, 2.7 +/- 1.7 GBq of 11C-NMS aqueous solutions ready for i.v. injection have been produced at 98.3 +/- 1.0% radiochemical purity using an automated synthesis apparatus. The products were used for clinical purposes with a positron camera and animal experiments.

Difference in response of D2 receptor binding between 11C-N-methylspiperone and 11C-raclopride against anesthetics in rhesus monkey brain

The effects of anesthesia on dopamine D2 receptor binding in the rhesus monkey brain were examined using positron emission tomography. The bindings of11C-N-methylspiperone (NMSP) and11C-raclopride (RAC) were measured under controlled ketamine or isoflurane anesthesia. The binding of11C-NMSP was significantly lower in the striatum anesthetized with isoflurane than with ketamine. There was a smaller change in the binding of11C-RAC than of11C-NMSP. These findings suggest that changes in11C-NMSP or11C-RAC binding induced by anesthetics were not due solely to changes in the competition of endogenous dopamine.

Alterations in biodistribution of [3H]ro 15-1788 in mice by acute stress: Possible changes in in vivo binding availability of brain benzodiazepine receptor*

The biodistribution of [3H]Ro 15-1788 in control and stress-loaded mice (forced swimming) was compared. In control mice, carrier-free [3H]Ro 15-1788 was selectively and highly distributed in Bz receptor rich brain regions, while radioactivity in the brain was very low following administration of carrier-added tracer, which suggested that in vivo non-specific binding of this tracer was very low. Significant changes in biodistribution of carrier-free [3H]Ro 15-1788 were observed in stress-loaded mice, which strongly indicated that in vivo binding availability of Bz receptor in the brain was rapidly and reversibly reduced by acute stress. The degree of these changes was very dependent upon the stressful conditions, such as swimming duration and water temperature, and a significant alteration in biodistribution of [3H]Ro 15-1788 was particularly observed in the cerebral cortex. Simplified Scatchard analysis of in vivo binding of this tracer was performed, and results suggested that these alterations were mainly caused by changes in the Kd value rather than the Bmax value.