ABSTRACT
Previous studies in mice and PET investigations in a Rhesus monkey showed that the regional uptake of 18F-memantine could be blocked by pharmacological doses of memantine and (+)-MK-801. In the present study, the binding characteristics of 18F-memantine was examined in five healthy volunteers. In humans, 18F-memantine was homogeneously distributed in gray matter i.e. cortex and basal ganglia regions, as well as the cerebellum. No radioactive metabolites were detected in plasma during the time-frame of the PET studies. The uptake of 18F-memantine in receptor-rich regions such as striatum and frontal cortex could be well described by a 1-tissue compartment model. The DV" values of all gray matter regions were similar and ranged from 15 to 20 ml/ml. The white matter showed lower DV" values of 15 +/- 1.4 ml/ml. These results suggest that 18F-memantine distribution in human brain does not reflect the regional NMDA receptor concentration, and therefore, this radioligand is not suitable for the PET imaging of the NMDA receptors.
Subject(s)
Brain/diagnostic imaging , Memantine/analogs & derivatives , Memantine/pharmacokinetics , Radiopharmaceuticals/pharmacokinetics , Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate/metabolism , Adult , Brain/metabolism , Humans , Male , Memantine/blood , Radioligand Assay , Radiopharmaceuticals/blood , Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate/analysis , Reference Values , Tomography, Emission-ComputedABSTRACT
(D)-7-Iodo-N-(1-phosphonoethyl)-5-aminomethylquinoxaline-2,3 -dione (I-PAMQX), is a potent, in vivo active antagonist acting at the glycine binding site of the NMDA receptor complex. Radioiodinated [131I]I-PAMQX was prepared with good yields and high specific activity from its 7-bromo analogue. Biodistribution studies of [131I]I-PAMQX in mice showed a relatively slow clearance from the blood. The uptake of radioactivity was highest in the kidneys, moderate in the heart, lung, liver and bones, and low in the brain.