Impaired mitochondrial function, oxidative stress and formation of excessive levels of reactive o... more Impaired mitochondrial function, oxidative stress and formation of excessive levels of reactive oxygen species play a key role in neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease. Myeloperoxidase is a reactive oxygen generating enzyme and is expressed by microglia. The novel compound AZD3241 is a selective and irreversible inhibitor of myeloperoxidase. The hypothesized mechanism of action of AZD3241 involves reduction of oxidative stress leading to reduction of sustained neuroinflammation. The purpose of this phase 2a randomized placebo controlled multicentre positron emission tomography study was to examine the effect of 8 weeks treatment with AZD3241 on microglia in patients with Parkinson's disease. Parkinson patients received either AZD3241 600 mg orally twice a day or placebo (in 3:1 ratio) for 8 weeks. The binding of (11)C-PBR28 to the microglia marker 18 kDa translocator protein, was examined using positron emission tomography at baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks. The outcome measure was the total distribution volume, estimated with the invasive Logan graphical analysis. The primary statistical analysis examined changes in total distribution volume after treatment with AZD3241 compared to baseline. Assessments of safety and tolerability of AZD3241 included records of adverse events, vital signs, electrocardiogram, and laboratory tests. The patients had a mean age of 62 (standard deviation = 6) years; 21 were male, three female and mean Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale III score (motor examination) ranged between 6 and 29. In the AD3241 treatment group (n = 18) the total distribution volume of (11)C-PBR28 binding to translocator protein was significantly reduced compared to baseline both at 4 and 8 weeks (P < 0.05). The distribution volume reduction across nigrostriatal regions at 8 weeks ranged from 13-16%, with an effect size equal to 0.5-0.6. There was no overall change in total distribution volume in the placebo group (n = 6). AZD3241 was safe and well tolerated. The reduction of (11)C-PBR28 binding to translocator protein in the brain of patients with Parkinson's disease after treatment with AZD3241 supports the hypothesis that inhibition of myeloperoxidase has an effect on microglia. The results of the present study provide support for proof of mechanism of AZD3241 and warrant extended studies on the efficacy of AZD3241 in neurodegenerative disorders.
The serotonin 5-HT1B receptor subtype is involved in the modulation of serotonin release and is a... more The serotonin 5-HT1B receptor subtype is involved in the modulation of serotonin release and is a target of interest for neuroreceptor imaging. Previous studies have shown that the serotonin system is affected in Parkinsońs disease (PD). Cognitive function, frequently impaired in PD, has been linked to the serotonin system. The aim of this study was to examine whether 5-HT1B receptor availability in the brain of healthy subjects and PD patients is associated with measures of cognitive function. Twelve control subjects and ten PD patients with normal mini-mental state examination scores were included in this study. Cognitive function was evaluated by assessment of semantic, episodic, and working memory, as well as fluency and visual attention. Creative ability, a measure of divergent thinking, was examined with the alternative uses of objects task. PET measurements were performed with the 5-HT1B receptor-radioligand [(11) C]AZ10419369 using the HRRT system. PD patients showed statist...
Journal of cerebral blood flow and metabolism : official journal of the International Society of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism, Jan 15, 2015
Longitudinal positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of beta-amyloid is used in basic research... more Longitudinal positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of beta-amyloid is used in basic research and in drug efficacy trials in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the extent of amyloid accumulation after clinical onset is not fully known. Importantly, regional PET data are typically quantified using the standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR), which according to simulations is sensitive to changes in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF). We aimed to better understand the potentials of longitudinal amyloid imaging by disentangling the influence of blood flow on SUVR using experimental data. [18F]AV-45 PET data from 101 subjects, ranging from cognitively normal to AD patients, in the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative were extracted. The relationship between global cortical distribution volume ratio, indicator of rCBF (R1), and SUVR was examined using multilinear regression. There was a significant effect of rCBF on SUVR. The effect increased by disease severity. Resul...
The international journal of neuropsychopharmacology / official scientific journal of the Collegium Internationale Neuropsychopharmacologicum (CINP), Jan 26, 2015
PET microdosing of radiolabeled drugs allows for non-invasive studies of organ exposure in vivo. ... more PET microdosing of radiolabeled drugs allows for non-invasive studies of organ exposure in vivo. The aim of the present study was to examine and compare twelve commercially available CNS drugs and one non-CNS drug. The drugs were radiolabeled with (11)C (t1/2 = 20.4 min) and examined using a high resolution research tomograph. In cynomolgus monkeys, each drug was examined twice. In rhesus monkeys, a first PET microdosing measurement was repeated after pre-administration with unlabeled drug to examine potential dose-dependent effects on brain exposure. Partition coefficients between brain and plasma (KP) were calculated by dividing the AUC0-90 min for brain with that for plasma or by a compartmental analysis (VT). Unbound KP (KP u,u) was obtained by correction for the free fraction in brain and plasma. After intravenous injection, the maximum radioactivity concentration (Cmax, %ID) in brain ranged between 0.01% to 6.2%. For ten of the twelve CNS drugs Cmax, %ID was > 2%, indicatin...
There is a medical need for safe and efficacious anti-obesity drugs with acceptable side effect p... more There is a medical need for safe and efficacious anti-obesity drugs with acceptable side effect profiles. To mitigate the challenge posed by translating target interaction across species and balancing beneficial vs. adverse effects, a positron emission tomography (PET) approach could help guide clinical dose optimization. Thus, as part of a compound differentiation effort, three novel selective CB1 receptor (CB1R) antagonists, developed by AstraZeneca (AZ) for the treatment of obesity, were compared with two clinically tested reference compounds, rimonabant and taranabant, with regard to receptor occupancy relative to dose and exposure. A total of 42 PET measurements were performed in 6 non-human primates using the novel CB1R antagonist radioligand [(11)C]SD5024. The AZ CB1R antagonists bound in a saturable manner to brain CB1R with in vivo affinities similar to that of rimonabant and taranabant, compounds with proven weight loss efficacy in clinical trials. Interestingly, it was fo...
The international journal of neuropsychopharmacology / official scientific journal of the Collegium Internationale Neuropsychopharmacologicum (CINP), 2015
The neurotransmitter norepinephrine has been implicated in psychiatric and neurodegenerative diso... more The neurotransmitter norepinephrine has been implicated in psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. Examination of synaptic norepinephrine concentrations in the living brain may be possible with positron emission tomography (PET), but has been hampered by the lack of suitable radioligands. We explored the use of the novel α2C-adrenoceptor antagonist PET tracer [(11)C]ORM-13070 for measurement of amphetamine-induced changes in synaptic norepinephrine. The effect of amphetamine on [(11)C]ORM-13070 binding was evaluated ex vivo in rat brain sections and in vivo with PET imaging in monkeys. Microdialysis experiments confirmed amphetamine-induced elevations in rat striatal norepinephrine and dopamine concentrations. Regional [(11)C]ORM-13070 receptor binding was high in the striatum and low in the cerebellum. After injection of [(11)C]ORM-13070 in rats, mean striatal specific binding ratios, determined using cerebellum as a reference region, were 1.4±0.3 after vehicle pretreatment an...
The international journal of neuropsychopharmacology / official scientific journal of the Collegium Internationale Neuropsychopharmacologicum (CINP), 2005
Since the 1960s, physicians have been aware of electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities and cases... more Since the 1960s, physicians have been aware of electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities and cases of sudden death associated with the use of antipsychotic drugs in patients with schizophrenia. Explanations for such deaths have traditionally focused on drug-induced prolongation of the QT interval leading to the development of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias such as torsade de pointes (TdP). It is now apparent that most conventional and atypical antipsychotics can cause dose-related prolongation of the corrected QT interval (QTc), although there are important differences in the potency of individual agents. This review discusses potential mechanisms underlying QTc prolongation and arrhythmogenesis and examines the evidence for a relationship between antipsychotic drugs and prolongation of the QTc interval. New electrophysiological and epidemiological data are presented which suggest there may not be a clear-cut cause-effect relationship between QTc prolongation and the develo...
The international journal of neuropsychopharmacology / official scientific journal of the Collegium Internationale Neuropsychopharmacologicum (CINP), 1999
The aim of the present study was to quantify the density and affinity of human extrastriatal dopa... more The aim of the present study was to quantify the density and affinity of human extrastriatal dopamine D2 receptors using positron emission tomography (PET). [(11)C]FLB-457, a high-affinity dopamine D2 receptor antagonist with various specific radioactivities (SA) was used. Eight healthy male subjects, age 20-35 yr, participated twice or three times at different SAs (1-279 GBq/ µmol), and serial dynamic scans were performed in the 3D data acquisition mode. The peak of the specific binding was not well defined with high SA due to the flatness of the curves after 60 min but was observed within the PET measurement. In the experiment with low SA, the peak came earlier than that with high SA. Scatchard analysis was performed using the maximal specific binding value (transient equilibrium) and the radioactivity in the cerebellum as free ligand concentration. The highest density was observed in the thalamus (2.3+/-0.6 pmol/ml), followed by the temporal cortex (1.5+/-0.5 pmol/ml), hippocampu...
Journal of nuclear medicine : official publication, Society of Nuclear Medicine, 1998
The serotonin 5-hydroxytryptamine-1A (5-HT1A) receptor subtype is of central interest in research... more The serotonin 5-hydroxytryptamine-1A (5-HT1A) receptor subtype is of central interest in research on the pathophysiology and treatment of psychiatric disorders. Carbonyl-11 C-WAY-100635 is a new radioligand that, in PET experiments, provides high-contrast delineation of brain regions that are rich in 5-HT1A receptors. The aim of this PET study was to examine the prospects for quantitation of carbonyl-11C-WAY-100635 binding to 5-HT1A receptors in the human brain. A PET examination was performed in each of six healthy male subjects after intravenous injection of carbonyl-11C-WAY-100635. Radioactive metabolites in plasma were determined with high-performance liquid chromatography. The metabolite-corrected arterial input function was used in a kinetic three-compartment analysis, and the cerebellum was used as reference region in linear graphical and transient equilibrium analyses. The highest radioactivity concentration was observed in the neocortex and the raphe nuclei, whereas radioac...
Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, 1997
Olanzapine is a new antipsychotic drug with affinity for 5-HT2, D2, D1, and muscarinic receptors.... more Olanzapine is a new antipsychotic drug with affinity for 5-HT2, D2, D1, and muscarinic receptors. Positron emission tomography and the radioligands [11C]raclopride and [11C]NMSP were used to measure D2 and 5-HT2 receptor occupancy in three healthy subjects after 10 mg olanzapine orally. After seven hours D2 receptor occupancy was 63%, 62% and 59%, respectively. After 9.5 hours 5-HT2 receptor occupancy was 74%, 86% and 92%. D2 and 5-HT2 receptor occupancy was comparable to that found in patients continuously treated with clozapine. Clinical efficacy has been demonstrated for olanzapine in the dose range 5 to 15 mg per day. Extrapolation from our present observations after a 10 mg single-dose suggest, that at the lower end of the clinically examined dose range the D2 and 5-HT2 receptor occupancy should be similar to that induced by standard doses of clozapine. Detailed evaluation of the dose-response characteristics of olanzapine and direct clinical comparison to clozapine will thus p...
beta-CIT-FP [N-(3-fluoropropyl)-2 beta-carbomethoxy-3 beta-(4-iodophenyl)nortropane] is a cocaine... more beta-CIT-FP [N-(3-fluoropropyl)-2 beta-carbomethoxy-3 beta-(4-iodophenyl)nortropane] is a cocaine analogue with a high affinity for the dopamine transporter. [O-methyl-11C]beta-CIT-FP ([11C]beta-CIT-FP) was prepared by O-alkylation of the free acid with [11C]methyl iodide. The total radiochemical yield of [11C]beta-CIT-FP was 50 to 60% with an overall synthesis time of 30 min. The radiochemical purity was > 99%, and the specific radioactivity at time of injection was about 37 GBq/mumol (1000 Ci/mmol). Autoradiographic examination of [11C]beta-CIT-FP binding in human brain postmortem demonstrated specific binding in the caudate nucleus and putamen. Positron emission tomography (PET) examination of [11C]beta-CIT-FP in a Cynomolgus monkey demonstrated accumulation in the striatum with a striatum-to-cerebellum ratio of about 8 after 60 min. Equilibrium in the striatum was attained within 70 to 90 min. The radioactivity ratios of thalamus/cerebellum and neocortex/cerebellum were about...
The myeloperoxidase inhibitor AZD3241 has been selected as a candidate drug currently being devel... more The myeloperoxidase inhibitor AZD3241 has been selected as a candidate drug currently being developed to delay progression in patients with neurodegenerative brain disorders. Part of the decision tree for translation of AZD3241 into clinical studies included the need for assessment of brain exposure in non-human primates by PET microdosing. For that purpose a rapid multistep method for (11)C-labeling of AZD3241 was developed. AZD3241 was labeled in the thio-carbonyl position starting from [(11)C]potassium cyanide in a 4-step procedure using microwave assisted heating. In the first step [(11)C]potassium cyanide was converted to [(11)C]potassium thiocyanate followed by reaction with benzoyl chloride to yield benzoyl [(11)C]isothiocyanate. The benzoyl [(11)C]isothiocyanate was subsequently reacted with the precursor ethyl 3-(2-isopropoxyethylamino)-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxylate and the formed intermediate underwent a base catalyzed cyclization to obtain [(11)C]AZD3241 in the final step. To assess [(11)C]AZD3241 brain exposure PET measurements were performed in three cynomolgus monkeys. [(11)C]AZD3241 was produced in good and reproducible radiochemical yield 710±294 MBq (mean±SD, n=7). Total time of synthesis was 60min from end of bombardment. The specific radioactivity was 9±4GBq/μmol and the radiochemical purity was >98%. Following iv administration of [(11)C]AZD3241 there was a rapid presence of radioactivity in brain in each of the three monkeys. The distribution of [(11)C]AZD3241 to brain was fast and a Cmax of 1.9 to 2.6% of the injected radioactivity was observed within 1.5min. [(11)C]AZD3241 was homogeneously distributed in brain. The MPO inhibitor AZD3241 was successfully labeled with carbon-11 in a challenging 4-step procedure in good radiochemical yield allowing PET microdosing studies in cynomolgus monkey. [(11)C]AZD3241 rapidly entered brain and confirmed adequate brain exposure to support translation of AZD3241 to phase 2a studies in patients.
Attenuation correction is of major importance for accurate quantification by PET. In this study a... more Attenuation correction is of major importance for accurate quantification by PET. In this study analyses were performed on the uptake curves for [11C]raclopride binding in 11 healthy subjects. The images were reconstructed by applying two different methods for attenuation correction, estimated attenuation correction by an external transmission source and attenuation correction by using a contour finding algorithm with a fixed
The mammalian circadian clock underlies both diurnal and seasonal changes in physiology, and its ... more The mammalian circadian clock underlies both diurnal and seasonal changes in physiology, and its function is thought to be disturbed in both seasonal and non-seasonal depression. In humans, molecular imaging studies have reported seasonal changes in the serotonin system. Despite the role of the circadian clock in generating seasonal physiological changes, however, diurnal variation of serotonin receptors and transporters have never been directly studied in humans. We used positron emission tomography to examine diurnal and seasonal changes in the serotonin 5-HT1A receptor and serotonin transporter in two large cohorts of healthy male subjects, employing a cross-sectional design. In 56 subjects measured with [(11)C]WAY-100635, we observed diurnal increases in the availability of 5-HT1A receptors in the cortex. In 40 subjects measured with [(11)C]MADAM, a decrease in 5-HTT was observed in the midbrain across the day. We also found seasonal changes in the 5-HT1A receptor in serotonin p...
Impaired mitochondrial function, oxidative stress and formation of excessive levels of reactive o... more Impaired mitochondrial function, oxidative stress and formation of excessive levels of reactive oxygen species play a key role in neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease. Myeloperoxidase is a reactive oxygen generating enzyme and is expressed by microglia. The novel compound AZD3241 is a selective and irreversible inhibitor of myeloperoxidase. The hypothesized mechanism of action of AZD3241 involves reduction of oxidative stress leading to reduction of sustained neuroinflammation. The purpose of this phase 2a randomized placebo controlled multicentre positron emission tomography study was to examine the effect of 8 weeks treatment with AZD3241 on microglia in patients with Parkinson's disease. Parkinson patients received either AZD3241 600 mg orally twice a day or placebo (in 3:1 ratio) for 8 weeks. The binding of (11)C-PBR28 to the microglia marker 18 kDa translocator protein, was examined using positron emission tomography at baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks. The outcome measure was the total distribution volume, estimated with the invasive Logan graphical analysis. The primary statistical analysis examined changes in total distribution volume after treatment with AZD3241 compared to baseline. Assessments of safety and tolerability of AZD3241 included records of adverse events, vital signs, electrocardiogram, and laboratory tests. The patients had a mean age of 62 (standard deviation = 6) years; 21 were male, three female and mean Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale III score (motor examination) ranged between 6 and 29. In the AD3241 treatment group (n = 18) the total distribution volume of (11)C-PBR28 binding to translocator protein was significantly reduced compared to baseline both at 4 and 8 weeks (P < 0.05). The distribution volume reduction across nigrostriatal regions at 8 weeks ranged from 13-16%, with an effect size equal to 0.5-0.6. There was no overall change in total distribution volume in the placebo group (n = 6). AZD3241 was safe and well tolerated. The reduction of (11)C-PBR28 binding to translocator protein in the brain of patients with Parkinson's disease after treatment with AZD3241 supports the hypothesis that inhibition of myeloperoxidase has an effect on microglia. The results of the present study provide support for proof of mechanism of AZD3241 and warrant extended studies on the efficacy of AZD3241 in neurodegenerative disorders.
The serotonin 5-HT1B receptor subtype is involved in the modulation of serotonin release and is a... more The serotonin 5-HT1B receptor subtype is involved in the modulation of serotonin release and is a target of interest for neuroreceptor imaging. Previous studies have shown that the serotonin system is affected in Parkinsońs disease (PD). Cognitive function, frequently impaired in PD, has been linked to the serotonin system. The aim of this study was to examine whether 5-HT1B receptor availability in the brain of healthy subjects and PD patients is associated with measures of cognitive function. Twelve control subjects and ten PD patients with normal mini-mental state examination scores were included in this study. Cognitive function was evaluated by assessment of semantic, episodic, and working memory, as well as fluency and visual attention. Creative ability, a measure of divergent thinking, was examined with the alternative uses of objects task. PET measurements were performed with the 5-HT1B receptor-radioligand [(11) C]AZ10419369 using the HRRT system. PD patients showed statist...
Journal of cerebral blood flow and metabolism : official journal of the International Society of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism, Jan 15, 2015
Longitudinal positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of beta-amyloid is used in basic research... more Longitudinal positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of beta-amyloid is used in basic research and in drug efficacy trials in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the extent of amyloid accumulation after clinical onset is not fully known. Importantly, regional PET data are typically quantified using the standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR), which according to simulations is sensitive to changes in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF). We aimed to better understand the potentials of longitudinal amyloid imaging by disentangling the influence of blood flow on SUVR using experimental data. [18F]AV-45 PET data from 101 subjects, ranging from cognitively normal to AD patients, in the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative were extracted. The relationship between global cortical distribution volume ratio, indicator of rCBF (R1), and SUVR was examined using multilinear regression. There was a significant effect of rCBF on SUVR. The effect increased by disease severity. Resul...
The international journal of neuropsychopharmacology / official scientific journal of the Collegium Internationale Neuropsychopharmacologicum (CINP), Jan 26, 2015
PET microdosing of radiolabeled drugs allows for non-invasive studies of organ exposure in vivo. ... more PET microdosing of radiolabeled drugs allows for non-invasive studies of organ exposure in vivo. The aim of the present study was to examine and compare twelve commercially available CNS drugs and one non-CNS drug. The drugs were radiolabeled with (11)C (t1/2 = 20.4 min) and examined using a high resolution research tomograph. In cynomolgus monkeys, each drug was examined twice. In rhesus monkeys, a first PET microdosing measurement was repeated after pre-administration with unlabeled drug to examine potential dose-dependent effects on brain exposure. Partition coefficients between brain and plasma (KP) were calculated by dividing the AUC0-90 min for brain with that for plasma or by a compartmental analysis (VT). Unbound KP (KP u,u) was obtained by correction for the free fraction in brain and plasma. After intravenous injection, the maximum radioactivity concentration (Cmax, %ID) in brain ranged between 0.01% to 6.2%. For ten of the twelve CNS drugs Cmax, %ID was > 2%, indicatin...
There is a medical need for safe and efficacious anti-obesity drugs with acceptable side effect p... more There is a medical need for safe and efficacious anti-obesity drugs with acceptable side effect profiles. To mitigate the challenge posed by translating target interaction across species and balancing beneficial vs. adverse effects, a positron emission tomography (PET) approach could help guide clinical dose optimization. Thus, as part of a compound differentiation effort, three novel selective CB1 receptor (CB1R) antagonists, developed by AstraZeneca (AZ) for the treatment of obesity, were compared with two clinically tested reference compounds, rimonabant and taranabant, with regard to receptor occupancy relative to dose and exposure. A total of 42 PET measurements were performed in 6 non-human primates using the novel CB1R antagonist radioligand [(11)C]SD5024. The AZ CB1R antagonists bound in a saturable manner to brain CB1R with in vivo affinities similar to that of rimonabant and taranabant, compounds with proven weight loss efficacy in clinical trials. Interestingly, it was fo...
The international journal of neuropsychopharmacology / official scientific journal of the Collegium Internationale Neuropsychopharmacologicum (CINP), 2015
The neurotransmitter norepinephrine has been implicated in psychiatric and neurodegenerative diso... more The neurotransmitter norepinephrine has been implicated in psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. Examination of synaptic norepinephrine concentrations in the living brain may be possible with positron emission tomography (PET), but has been hampered by the lack of suitable radioligands. We explored the use of the novel α2C-adrenoceptor antagonist PET tracer [(11)C]ORM-13070 for measurement of amphetamine-induced changes in synaptic norepinephrine. The effect of amphetamine on [(11)C]ORM-13070 binding was evaluated ex vivo in rat brain sections and in vivo with PET imaging in monkeys. Microdialysis experiments confirmed amphetamine-induced elevations in rat striatal norepinephrine and dopamine concentrations. Regional [(11)C]ORM-13070 receptor binding was high in the striatum and low in the cerebellum. After injection of [(11)C]ORM-13070 in rats, mean striatal specific binding ratios, determined using cerebellum as a reference region, were 1.4±0.3 after vehicle pretreatment an...
The international journal of neuropsychopharmacology / official scientific journal of the Collegium Internationale Neuropsychopharmacologicum (CINP), 2005
Since the 1960s, physicians have been aware of electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities and cases... more Since the 1960s, physicians have been aware of electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities and cases of sudden death associated with the use of antipsychotic drugs in patients with schizophrenia. Explanations for such deaths have traditionally focused on drug-induced prolongation of the QT interval leading to the development of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias such as torsade de pointes (TdP). It is now apparent that most conventional and atypical antipsychotics can cause dose-related prolongation of the corrected QT interval (QTc), although there are important differences in the potency of individual agents. This review discusses potential mechanisms underlying QTc prolongation and arrhythmogenesis and examines the evidence for a relationship between antipsychotic drugs and prolongation of the QTc interval. New electrophysiological and epidemiological data are presented which suggest there may not be a clear-cut cause-effect relationship between QTc prolongation and the develo...
The international journal of neuropsychopharmacology / official scientific journal of the Collegium Internationale Neuropsychopharmacologicum (CINP), 1999
The aim of the present study was to quantify the density and affinity of human extrastriatal dopa... more The aim of the present study was to quantify the density and affinity of human extrastriatal dopamine D2 receptors using positron emission tomography (PET). [(11)C]FLB-457, a high-affinity dopamine D2 receptor antagonist with various specific radioactivities (SA) was used. Eight healthy male subjects, age 20-35 yr, participated twice or three times at different SAs (1-279 GBq/ µmol), and serial dynamic scans were performed in the 3D data acquisition mode. The peak of the specific binding was not well defined with high SA due to the flatness of the curves after 60 min but was observed within the PET measurement. In the experiment with low SA, the peak came earlier than that with high SA. Scatchard analysis was performed using the maximal specific binding value (transient equilibrium) and the radioactivity in the cerebellum as free ligand concentration. The highest density was observed in the thalamus (2.3+/-0.6 pmol/ml), followed by the temporal cortex (1.5+/-0.5 pmol/ml), hippocampu...
Journal of nuclear medicine : official publication, Society of Nuclear Medicine, 1998
The serotonin 5-hydroxytryptamine-1A (5-HT1A) receptor subtype is of central interest in research... more The serotonin 5-hydroxytryptamine-1A (5-HT1A) receptor subtype is of central interest in research on the pathophysiology and treatment of psychiatric disorders. Carbonyl-11 C-WAY-100635 is a new radioligand that, in PET experiments, provides high-contrast delineation of brain regions that are rich in 5-HT1A receptors. The aim of this PET study was to examine the prospects for quantitation of carbonyl-11C-WAY-100635 binding to 5-HT1A receptors in the human brain. A PET examination was performed in each of six healthy male subjects after intravenous injection of carbonyl-11C-WAY-100635. Radioactive metabolites in plasma were determined with high-performance liquid chromatography. The metabolite-corrected arterial input function was used in a kinetic three-compartment analysis, and the cerebellum was used as reference region in linear graphical and transient equilibrium analyses. The highest radioactivity concentration was observed in the neocortex and the raphe nuclei, whereas radioac...
Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, 1997
Olanzapine is a new antipsychotic drug with affinity for 5-HT2, D2, D1, and muscarinic receptors.... more Olanzapine is a new antipsychotic drug with affinity for 5-HT2, D2, D1, and muscarinic receptors. Positron emission tomography and the radioligands [11C]raclopride and [11C]NMSP were used to measure D2 and 5-HT2 receptor occupancy in three healthy subjects after 10 mg olanzapine orally. After seven hours D2 receptor occupancy was 63%, 62% and 59%, respectively. After 9.5 hours 5-HT2 receptor occupancy was 74%, 86% and 92%. D2 and 5-HT2 receptor occupancy was comparable to that found in patients continuously treated with clozapine. Clinical efficacy has been demonstrated for olanzapine in the dose range 5 to 15 mg per day. Extrapolation from our present observations after a 10 mg single-dose suggest, that at the lower end of the clinically examined dose range the D2 and 5-HT2 receptor occupancy should be similar to that induced by standard doses of clozapine. Detailed evaluation of the dose-response characteristics of olanzapine and direct clinical comparison to clozapine will thus p...
beta-CIT-FP [N-(3-fluoropropyl)-2 beta-carbomethoxy-3 beta-(4-iodophenyl)nortropane] is a cocaine... more beta-CIT-FP [N-(3-fluoropropyl)-2 beta-carbomethoxy-3 beta-(4-iodophenyl)nortropane] is a cocaine analogue with a high affinity for the dopamine transporter. [O-methyl-11C]beta-CIT-FP ([11C]beta-CIT-FP) was prepared by O-alkylation of the free acid with [11C]methyl iodide. The total radiochemical yield of [11C]beta-CIT-FP was 50 to 60% with an overall synthesis time of 30 min. The radiochemical purity was > 99%, and the specific radioactivity at time of injection was about 37 GBq/mumol (1000 Ci/mmol). Autoradiographic examination of [11C]beta-CIT-FP binding in human brain postmortem demonstrated specific binding in the caudate nucleus and putamen. Positron emission tomography (PET) examination of [11C]beta-CIT-FP in a Cynomolgus monkey demonstrated accumulation in the striatum with a striatum-to-cerebellum ratio of about 8 after 60 min. Equilibrium in the striatum was attained within 70 to 90 min. The radioactivity ratios of thalamus/cerebellum and neocortex/cerebellum were about...
The myeloperoxidase inhibitor AZD3241 has been selected as a candidate drug currently being devel... more The myeloperoxidase inhibitor AZD3241 has been selected as a candidate drug currently being developed to delay progression in patients with neurodegenerative brain disorders. Part of the decision tree for translation of AZD3241 into clinical studies included the need for assessment of brain exposure in non-human primates by PET microdosing. For that purpose a rapid multistep method for (11)C-labeling of AZD3241 was developed. AZD3241 was labeled in the thio-carbonyl position starting from [(11)C]potassium cyanide in a 4-step procedure using microwave assisted heating. In the first step [(11)C]potassium cyanide was converted to [(11)C]potassium thiocyanate followed by reaction with benzoyl chloride to yield benzoyl [(11)C]isothiocyanate. The benzoyl [(11)C]isothiocyanate was subsequently reacted with the precursor ethyl 3-(2-isopropoxyethylamino)-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxylate and the formed intermediate underwent a base catalyzed cyclization to obtain [(11)C]AZD3241 in the final step. To assess [(11)C]AZD3241 brain exposure PET measurements were performed in three cynomolgus monkeys. [(11)C]AZD3241 was produced in good and reproducible radiochemical yield 710±294 MBq (mean±SD, n=7). Total time of synthesis was 60min from end of bombardment. The specific radioactivity was 9±4GBq/μmol and the radiochemical purity was >98%. Following iv administration of [(11)C]AZD3241 there was a rapid presence of radioactivity in brain in each of the three monkeys. The distribution of [(11)C]AZD3241 to brain was fast and a Cmax of 1.9 to 2.6% of the injected radioactivity was observed within 1.5min. [(11)C]AZD3241 was homogeneously distributed in brain. The MPO inhibitor AZD3241 was successfully labeled with carbon-11 in a challenging 4-step procedure in good radiochemical yield allowing PET microdosing studies in cynomolgus monkey. [(11)C]AZD3241 rapidly entered brain and confirmed adequate brain exposure to support translation of AZD3241 to phase 2a studies in patients.
Attenuation correction is of major importance for accurate quantification by PET. In this study a... more Attenuation correction is of major importance for accurate quantification by PET. In this study analyses were performed on the uptake curves for [11C]raclopride binding in 11 healthy subjects. The images were reconstructed by applying two different methods for attenuation correction, estimated attenuation correction by an external transmission source and attenuation correction by using a contour finding algorithm with a fixed
The mammalian circadian clock underlies both diurnal and seasonal changes in physiology, and its ... more The mammalian circadian clock underlies both diurnal and seasonal changes in physiology, and its function is thought to be disturbed in both seasonal and non-seasonal depression. In humans, molecular imaging studies have reported seasonal changes in the serotonin system. Despite the role of the circadian clock in generating seasonal physiological changes, however, diurnal variation of serotonin receptors and transporters have never been directly studied in humans. We used positron emission tomography to examine diurnal and seasonal changes in the serotonin 5-HT1A receptor and serotonin transporter in two large cohorts of healthy male subjects, employing a cross-sectional design. In 56 subjects measured with [(11)C]WAY-100635, we observed diurnal increases in the availability of 5-HT1A receptors in the cortex. In 40 subjects measured with [(11)C]MADAM, a decrease in 5-HTT was observed in the midbrain across the day. We also found seasonal changes in the 5-HT1A receptor in serotonin p...
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Papers by Lars Farde