Quantitative evaluation of boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) drugs for boron delivery and retention at subcellular-scale resolution in human glioblastoma cells with imaging secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS).

Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) of cancer depends on the selective delivery of a sufficient number of boron-10 ((10)B) atoms to individual tumour cells. Cell killing results from the (10)B (n, α)(7) Li neutron capture and fission reactions that occur if a sufficient number of (10)B atoms are localized in the tumour cells. Intranuclear (10)B localization enhances the efficiency of cell killing via damage to the DNA. The net cellular content of (10)B atoms reflects both bound and free pools of boron in individual tumour cells. The assessment of these pools, delivered by a boron delivery agent, currently cannot be made at subcellular-scale resolution by clinically applicable techniques such as positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. In this study, a secondary ion mass spectrometry based imaging instrument, a CAMECA IMS 3f ion microscope, capable of 500 nm spatial resolution was employed. Cryogenically prepared cultured human T98G glioblastoma cells were evaluated for boron uptake and retention of two delivery agents. The first, L-p-boronophenylalanine (BPA), has been used clinically for BNCT of high-grade gliomas, recurrent tumours of the head and neck region and melanomas. The second, a boron analogue of an unnatural amino acid, 1-amino-3-borono-cyclopentanecarboxylic acid (cis-ABCPC), has been studied in rodent glioma and melanoma models by quantification of boron in the nucleus and cytoplasm of individual tumour cells. The bound and free pools of boron were assessed by exposure of cells to boron-free nutrient medium. Both BPA and cis-ABCPC delivered almost 70% of the pool of boron in the free or loosely bound form to the nucleus and cytoplasm of human glioblastoma cells. This free pool of boron could be easily mobilized out of the cell and was in some sort of equilibrium with extracellular boron. In the case of BPA, the intracellular free pool of boron also was affected by the presence of phenylalanine in the nutrient medium. This suggests that it might be advantageous if patients were placed on a low phenylalanine diet prior to the initiation of BNCT. Since BPA currently is used clinically for BNCT, our observations may have direct relevance to future clinical studies utilizing this agent and provides support for individualized treatment planning regimens rather than the use of fixed BPA infusion protocols.

Biological evaluation of boronated unnatural amino acids as new boron carriers.

There is a pressing need for new and more efficient boron delivery agents to tumor cells for use in boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT). A class of boronated unnatural cyclic amino acids has demonstrated a remarkable selectivity toward tumors in animal and cell culture models, far superior to currently used agents in clinical BNCT. One of these amino acids, 1-amino-3-boronocyclopentanecarboxylic acid (ABCPC), has shown a tumor to blood ratio of 8 and a tumor to normal brain ratio of nearly 21 in a melanoma bearing mouse model. This work represents further biological characterization of this compound for tumor targeting in an EMT6 murine mammary carcinoma mouse model and a T98G human glioblastoma cell line. Female BALB/c mice bearing EMT6 tumors were injected with the fructose complex form of racemic mixtures of cis and trans isomers of ABCPC in identical concentrations. Boron concentrations were measured in the tumor, blood, brain, skin, and liver tissues at 1, 3, and 5 h post-injection. These observations revealed a remarkable difference in racemic mixtures of cis and trans isomers in tumor targeting by boron. This implies that further separation of the L and D forms of this compound may enhance tumor targeting to an even higher degree than that provided by the racemic mixtures. Since the uptake measurements were made in homogenized tumor and normal tissues, little is known about the subcellular location of the boron arising from the various isomeric forms of the amino acid. To study subcellular delivery of boron from ABCPC in T98G human glioblastoma cells, we employed secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) based technique of ion microscopy, which is capable of quantitatively imaging isotopic (elemental) gradients in cells and tissues at 500 nm spatial resolution. The T98G cells were exposed to the nutrient medium containing 100 ppm boron equivalent of a mixture of both L and D isomers of ABCPC in the form of a fructose complex for 1 h. Following this treatment, the cells were fast frozen, freeze-fractured, and freeze-dried for SIMS analysis. Within an hour of exposure, ABCPC provided partitioning of intracellular to extracellular boron of 3/1. SIMS imaging revealed that boron from ABCPC was distributed throughout the cell, including the nucleus. This level of boron delivery within an hour of exposure is superior to p-boronophenylalanine (BPA) and sodium borocaptate (BSH), which have been previously studied by SIMS in the same cell line. These encouraging observations provide compelling support for further isomeric separations of ABCPC into the D and L forms for enhanced tumor targeting and continued testing of these compounds as new boron carriers in BNCT.

Microdosimetric study for interpretation of outcomes from boron neutron capture therapy clinical trials.

Boron neutron capture therapy is a brachyradiotherapy utilizing the (10)B(n,alpha)(7)Li reaction that has been used to treat glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), melanoma and colon carcinoma liver metastases. GBM clinical trials resulted in modestly improved life expectancies compared with conventional therapies. Early results trials focused on malignant melanoma and colon carcinoma provide dramatically better results. Macrodosimetry cannot explain these apparent differences. The dichotomy can only be understood using microdosimetry techniques. A computer program has been created to provide an improved tissue model. This model permits the dose in each cell's cytoplasm, nucleus, and the interstitium to be calculated for ellipsoidal cells placed in either random or ordered locations. The nuclei can be centered or eccentric. The new model provides insight into the micro level for differences in the trials. The differences arise from the tissue's cellular geometry and the effects of neighboring cells. These results help to explain the observed clinical outcomes.

The microdosimetry of boron neutron capture therapy in a randomised ellipsoidal cell geometry.

Two reactions deliver the majority of local dose in boron neutron capture therapy. The ionised particles (protons, alpha particles and lithium nuclei) produced in the two reactions, 10B(n,alpha,gamma)7Li and 14N(n,p)14O, have short ranges that are less than -14 microm (which is on the order of the diameter of a typical human cell). The ionised particles are heavy and are in the 2+ charge state in the case of the boron reactions. These heavy 2+ ions will do significant damage to molecules near their tracks. Thus, the distribution of nitrogen and, in particular, of boron determines the spatial characteristics of the radiation field. Since the distribution of nitrogen is nearly homogeneous in the brain and is not easily altered for the purpose of radiotherapy, the spatial variation in the radiation dose is due mainly to the spatial distribution of boron. This implies that the spatial distribution of boron determines the microscopic energy deposition and therefore the spatial characteristics of the microscopic dose. The microscopic dose from the (n,alpha) and (n,p) reactions has been examined in detail and, as averred, the proton dose is relatively homogeneous except for statistical variability. The statistical variability in essence adds a false spatial variability that would not be seen if a large number of histories were performed. Since the majority of spatial variability occurs in the boron distribution, the (n,p) reaction can be suppressed to better understand the spatial distribution effects on the microscopic dose. Programs have been written in FORTRAN using Monte Carlo techniques to model ellipsoidal cells that are either randomly sized and located in the region of interest or are arranged in a face centred cubic array and are identical except for the location of the nuclei, which may be random. It is shown that closely packed prolate ellipsoidal cells with a large eccentricity in one dimension will receive a larger nuclear dose than cells that are more sparsely packed. This demonstrates that the boron content of a cell and its nucleus can have a significant impact upon the dose to neighbouring cells. The local boron distribution in a region of interest can be shown to affect the macrodosimetric dose, with possible implications for clinical outcomes.

The syntheses and in vivo biodistribution of novel boronated unnatural amino acids.

A series of boronated, unnatural amino acids were prepared and their biodistribution determined in melanoma bearing mice. The unnatural amino acids were prepared utilizing recently developed borylation. The majority of the syntheses utilize metal catalyzed additions of diboron agents to unsaturated carbonyl compounds. Biodistribution studies in mice bearing melanoma tumors indicated that all the boronated amino acids were taken up by the melanoma tumors. The data for the cyclic five-membered ring analogue, 1-amino-3-boronocyclopentanecarboxylic acid, was most striking, exhibiting a nearly 22:1 ratio of boron concentration for tumor to brain at the 2 h time point, dropping to 7.3 after 6 h. The tumor to blood and tumor to skin ratios were also quite high. It is important to note that all of the amino acids were synthesized as racemic and diastereomeric mixtures. Thus there is a high probability that a single enantiomer of 1-amino-3-boronocyclopentanecarboxylic acid might exhibit far higher selectivity.

Uptake and washout of borocaptate sodium and borono-phenylalanine in cultured melanoma cells: a multi-nuclear NMR study.

The cellular uptake and washout of the two principal boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) agents, borocaptate sodium (BSH) and borono-phenylalanine (BPA), were monitored on-line, noninvasively, using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The uptake and washout of inorganic borate (B(i)) was also followed for comparison. M2R mouse melanoma cells grown on polystyrene microspheres were perfused inside the NMR sample tube. (11)B NMR was used to detect the presence of B(i), BSH and BPA, and (19)F NMR was applied to detect fluorinated BPA ((19)F-BPA). The results revealed chemical modifications of BSH due to spontaneous formation of the borocaptate dimer, BSSB, in the culture medium. BPA readily formed a complex with glucose contained in the culture medium but was also converted in the cells to a yet unidentified compound in a reaction that probably involves the hydrolysis of BPA and the release of B(i). The cellular accumulation ratio for BPA was significantly higher than 1 and was also significantly higher than that for BSH. On the other hand, the cellular retention time observed for BSH was much longer than for BPA, indicating a strong trapping of BSH in cells.

High resolution computed tomography and MRI for monitoring lung tumor growth in mice undergoing radioimmunotherapy: correlation with histology.

A model lung tumor system has been developed in mice for the evaluation of vascular targeted radioimmunotherapy. In this model, EMT-6 mammary carcinoma tumors growing in the lung are treated with 213Bi, an alpha particle emitter, which is targeted to lung blood vessels using a monoclonal antibody. Smaller tumors (< 100 microm in diameter) are cured, but larger tumors undergo a period of regression and then regrow and ultimately prove lethal. The goal of this work was to determine if external imaging with MRI or CT could be used routinely to monitor the growth/ regression of lung tumors in live mice. To attempt to evaluate individual tumors in vivo, animals were initially imaged with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). High resolution MRI images could be obtained only after sacrifice when lungs were not moving. In contrast, high resolution computed tomography (CT) produced evaluable images from anesthetized animals. Serial CT images (up to 5/animal) were collected over a 17 day period of tumor growth and treatment. When tumored animals became moribund, animals were sacrificed and lungs were inflated with fixative, embedded in paraffin, and then sectioned serially to compare the detection of tumors by high resolution CT with detection by histology. CT proved most useful in detecting lung tumors located in the hilar area and least useful in detecting serosal surface and anterior lobe tumor foci. Overall, CT images of live animals revealed tumors in approximately 2/3 of cases detected in histologic serial sections when relatively few tumors were present per lung. Detection of lesions and their resolution post therapy were complicated due to residual hemorrhagic, regressing tumor nodules and the development of lung edema both of which appeared as high density areas in the CT scans. We conclude that the microCT method used could identify some lung tumors as small as 100 microm in diameter; however, no concrete evaluation of therapy induced regression of the tumors could be made with CT analyses alone.

Synthesis and evaluation of a new series of 17alpha-[(123)I]iodovinyl estradiols.

A series of 17alpha-substituted estradiols was synthesized in which the stereochemical characteristics of carbons 20 and 21 were modified. It was found that the (Z)-isomer demonstrated more favorable receptor binding affinity than the corresponding (E)-isomer.

Transgenic mouse model of AA amyloidosis.

AA amyloidosis can be induced in mice experimentally through injection of certain chemical or biological compounds. However, the usefulness of this approach is limited by its dependence on exogenous inflammatory agents that stimulate cytokines to increase the synthesis of precursor serum amyloid A (SAA) protein and the transitory nature of the pathological fibrillar deposits. We now report that transgenic mice carrying the human interleukin 6 gene under the control of the metallothionein-I promoter had markedly increased concentrations of SAA and developed amyloid in the spleen, liver, and kidneys by 3 months of age. At the time of death about 6 months later, organs obtained from these animals had extensive amyloid deposits. This disease process was apparent radiographically using small-animal computer axial tomography and magnetic resonance imaging equipment. The AA nature of the amyloid was evidenced immunohistochemically and was unequivocally established by sequence analysis of protein extracted from the fibrils. The availability of this unique in vivo experimental model of AA amyloidosis provides the means to assess the therapeutic efficacy of agents designed to reduce or prevent the fibrillar deposits found in AA and other types of amyloid-associated disease.

Boron-11 NMR of borocaptate: relaxation and in vivo detection in melanoma-bearing mice.

Longitudinal and transverse relaxation rates for the 11B resonances in sodium borocaptate (BSH) at varying concentrations were measured in undiluted horse serum in a 4.7 Tesla field. The results could be fit by a model that assumes fast exchange of the BSH molecule between a free and a bound state, using values of 0.77+/-0.7 MHz for the 11B quadrupole coupling constant and (6.3+/-0.9) x 10(-9) s for the rotational correlation time in the bound state. These results were used as a basis for assessing the requirements and limitations of quantitative determination of BSH concentrations in vivo, using 11B NMR. Surface coil 11B NMR spectroscopy was performed on a total of 14 mice injected with BSH. Some of the animals (n=9) had implanted M2R melanoma tumors grown to various sizes in the rear thigh, in which case the surface coil was placed against the tumor, whereas for the other animals (without tumor), the coil was placed against the rear thigh muscle. NMR spectra were acquired under fully relaxed conditions. The spectra were quantitated by peak integration; apparent absolute BSH concentrations were derived by comparison with spectra from a phantom with known BSH concentration, using extrapolation of the time-domain data to zero preacquisition delay. The results indicate significantly higher 11B BSH signal intensities in tumors, compared with muscle tissue, whereas the uptake and clearance kinetics were similar.

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) with 1-Aminocyclobutane-1-[(11)C]carboxylic Acid (1-[(11)C]-ACBC) for Detecting Recurrent Brain Tumors.

This study was done to determine whether 1-[(11)C]ACBC PET has any advantages over 2-[(18)F]FDG PET, CT, or MRI in detecting recurrent brain tumors, and whether quantitative 1-[(11)C]ACBC PET information improves the accuracy of "visual" image interpretation.Twenty patients with recurrent brain tumor underwent dynamic PET. Images were analyzed by visual interpretation; in addition, standardized uptake values (SUVs) and Patlak values (k(1)*k(3)/k) were evaluated.1-[(11)C]ACBC identified 19/20 recurrent brain tumors, [18F]FDG 13/19, MRI 13/19, and CT 8/16. Based on SUVs, the average tumor-to-contralateral gray matter ratio of 1-[(11)C]ACBC was 5.0 and 0.5 for 2-[(18)F]FDG. Mean Patlak values of 1-[(11)C]ACBC were 0.044 +/- 0.047 for high and 0.034 +/- 0.026 for low grade tumors. However, visual interpretation was effective without quantitative PET data.1-[(11)C]ACBC, accurately detects recurrent tumors for selecting biopsy sites and treatment planning.

In vitro effects of boron-containing compounds upon glioblastoma cells.

Boron-neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is currently under investigation as a novel therapeutic modality for glioblastoma. This study was undertaken to determine whether boron-containing compounds 4-borono-2-fluoro-D,L-phenylalanine (FBPA) and FBPA-fructose have direct effects upon kinetics of A172, a glioblastoma cell line. Flow cytometry analyzed cell-cycle distribution and S-phase kinetics (bromo deoxyuridine [BUdR] incorporation). BUdR incorporation was increased during a 1-hr pulse after 24-hr or 72-hr exposure of cells to varying concentrations of FBPA or FBPA-fructose. Results suggest that boron-containing compounds may effect cell kinetics apart from neutron activation, and this effect should be further evaluated for potential impact upon tumor responsiveness to BNCT.

Evaluation of fluorine-18-BPA-fructose for boron neutron capture treatment planning.

UNLABELLED: Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) using 4-[10B]boronophenylalanine-fructose (BPA-Fr) is in Phase II clinical trials to validate BNCT as a treatment for glioblastoma multiforme and melanoma. Successful BNCT depends on knowledge of the distribution of boron-containing agents in both tumor and normal tissue as currently determined by chemical confirmation of boron deposition in surgically removed malignant tissue before BNCT. METHODS: We used PET to noninvasively obtain in vivo information on the pharmacokinetics of the 18F-labeled analog of BPA-Fr in two patients with glioblastoma multiforme. Time-activity curves generated from the bolus injection of 18F-BPA-Fr were coinvolved to simulate a continuous infusion used for BNCT therapy. RESULTS: Distribution of 18F-BPA-Fr by PET was found to be consistent with tumor as identified by MR imaging. The 18F-BPA-Fr tumor-to-normal brain uptake ratio was 1.9 in Patient 1 and 3.1 in Patient 2 at 52 min after injection. The 18F-BPA-Fr uptake ratio in glioblastoma paralleled that of nonlabeled BPA-Fr seen in patients as previously determined by boron analysis of human glioblastoma tissue obtained from pre-BNCT surgical biopsy. CONCLUSION: Knowledge of the biodistribution of BPA-Fr enables pre-BNCT calculation of expected tissue dosimetry for a selected dose of BPA-Fr at a specific neutron exposure. Fluorine-18-BPA-Fr PET is capable of providing in vivo BPA-Fr biodistribution data that may prove valuable for patient selection and pre-BNCT treatment planning.

Imaging of boron in tissue at the cellular level for boron neutron capture therapy.

Glioblastoma multiforme, and other tumors involving the brain, are undergoing experimental treatment with a promising new technique: boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT). BNCT relies on the capture of thermal neutrons by boron deposited biochemically in the tumor and the subsequent fission of the boron into energetic lithium ions and alpha particles. An important requirement for improved BNCT is the development of more selective boron delivery mechanisms. The ability to image the boron concentration in tissue sections and even inside individual cells would be an important aid in the development of these delivery mechanisms. We have compared both sputter-initiated resonance ionization microprobe (SIRIMP), which combines resonance ionization with a high-energy pulsed focused sputter ion beam and mass spectrometric detection of ions, with laser atomization resonance ionization microprobe (LARIMP), which uses a laser pulse instead of an ion pulse for the atomization process, to determine their characteristics in locating and quantifying boron concentrations as a function of position in tissues obtained from a rat which had been infused with a BNCT drug. The data show that the SIRIMP/LARIMP techniques are well suited for quantitative and ultrasensitive imaging of boron trace element concentrations in biological tissue sections. The LARIMP mode could be used to quickly determine the spatial boron concentration with intercellular resolution over large areas down to the low nanograms-per-gram level, while the SIRIMP mode could be used to determine the spatial boron concentration and its variability in intracellular areas.

The role of boron MRI in boron neutron capture therapy.

Boron magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy (MRS) are being developed for use in boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT). With continued development, boron MRI may be used to locate BNCT agents in vivo, evaluate the pharmacokinetics of BNCT agents, and aid in treatment planning.

Communicating hydrocephalus in dogs with congenital ciliary dysfunction.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and radionuclide ventriculography were performed in 5 dogs with congenital ciliary dysfunction (CDD) and 3 normal dogs. Ventricular and brain dimensions and volumes, and CSF flow rates were measured or calculated from the MR images and radionuclide clearance. All CCD dogs had hydrocephalus based on previously published criteria of a percent vertical brain dimension (PVBD) greater than 14%. The PVBD was significantly larger (p = 0.001) in the dogs with CCD (mean +/- SD) 33.00 +/- 5.42% than in normal dogs (11.07 +/- 0.61%. The ventricular volume was significantly larger (p = 0.021) in CCD dogs 10,841 +/- 4,127 mm3 compared to the volume measured in normal dogs 3,069 +/- 1,167 mm3. The CSF flow rate was not significantly different p = 0.876) between CCD dogs (253.00 +/- 147.25 mm3/h) and normal dogs (267.667 +/- 47.61 mm3/h). This suggests that the ventricular dilation in CCD dogs is not due to impedance of CSF flow from the ventricular system by dysfunctional ependymal cilia.

Comparison of the in vivo pulmonary toxicity of amiodarone and des-oxo-amiodarone in the hamster.

Amiodarone (AM) is an effective antidysrhythmic agent, the use of which is limited because of the drug's potential for causing life-threatening pulmonary fibrosis. Oxidative stress involving keto oxygen-derived free radical formation has been postulated to be responsible for initiating AM-induced pulmonary toxicity (AIPT). We have investigated whether des-oxo-amiodarone (DOAM), which has a methylene group in place of the keto oxygen group of AM, causes pulmonary fibrosis in an experimental animal. Hamsters were given a single intratracheal instillation of AM HCl or DOAM HCl (1.83 mumol). At 21 days postdosing, animals treated with either AM or DOAM had increased lung wet weight, hydroxyproline content, and histological disease index compared to control. Both AM and DOAM treatments caused marked septal thickening and fibrosis, and an influx of inflammatory cells into alveolar and interstitial spaces. AM caused a greater degree of alveolar macrophage infiltration than did DOAM, which contributed to the higher lung disease index for AM treatment. Interestingly, a greater quantity of DOAM than AM remained in the lungs and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid 1 and 5 hr after treatment. Thus, DOAM possess fibrogenic properties similar to AM but based on the greater quantity of DOAM in the lung, it appears to be a less potent inducer of pulmonary toxicity. If oxidative stress has a role to play in AIPT, the results indicate that the keto oxygen is not the major determinant of AM-induced pulmonary fibrosis.

Synthesis and characterization of radioiodinated N-(3-iodopropen-1-yl)-2 beta-carbomethoxy-3 beta-(4-chlorophenyl)tropanes: potential dopamine reuptake site imaging agents.

Methods have been developed for the preparation of radioiodinated N-substituted 2 beta-carbomethoxy-3 beta-(4-chlorophenyl)tropanes. The syntheses, physical properties, radiolabeling, and characterization of the pharmacological properties of N-(3(Z)-iodopropen-1-yl)-2 beta-carbomethoxy-3 beta-(4-chlorophenyl)tropane (12) and N-(3(E)-iodopropen-1-yl)-2 beta-carbomethoxy-3 beta-(4-chlorophenyl)tropane (13) are described. 2 beta-Carbomethoxy-3 beta-(p-substituted-phenyl)tropanes are potent ligands for the dopamine transporter. The radioiodinated derivatives are of interest because of the high uptake and prolonged striatal retention that may result from specific binding to low-capacity, high-affinity, dopamine reuptake sites. Radioiodine was introduced into the 3Z and 3E-position of N-(3-iodopropen-1-yl)-2 beta-carbomethoxy-3 beta-(4-chlorophenyl)tropane by iododemetalation of the corresponding 3-(tri-n-butylstannyl) derivatives. Competition binding data of various dopamine reuptake ligands with rat striatal tissue preparation for either [125I]-12 or [125I]-13 exhibited the following order of potency: E-13 > Z-12 > GBR 12909 >> mazindol >>> (-)-cocaine. Tissue distribution studies in rats showed that the E-13 was the best analogue. E-13 showed high striatal uptake (60 min, 1.23% dose/g; 120 min, 0.61% dose/g) and high striatal to cerebellum ratios (60 min, 15.9/1; 120 min, 16.5/1). These studies indicate that iodine-123-labeled E-13 is a potentially useful agent for imaging the dopamine reuptake sites by single-photon-emission computerized tomography.

Synthesis and evaluation of radioiodinated 2-(2(RS)-aminopropyl)-5- iodothiophenes as brain imaging agents.

Methods have been developed for the preparation of 2-(2(RS)-aminopropyl)-5-iodothiophenes. The syntheses and physical properties of 2-(2(RS)-aminopropyl)-5-iodothiophene and N-isopropyl-2-(2(RS)-aminopropyl)-5-iodothiophene are described. The radioiodinated agents are of interest because of the high expected uptake and prolonged brain retention that may result from binding to high-capacity, relatively nonspecific amine binding sites. Radioiodine was introduced into the 5-position of 2-(2(RS)-aminopropyl)-5-iodothiophene and N-isopropyl-2-(2(RS)-aminopropyl)-5-iodothiophene by radioiodination of the corresponding 5-boronic acid or 5-(trimethylstannyl) derivatives. Tissue distribution studies in rats with 2-(2(RS)-aminopropyl)-5-[125I]iodothiophene showed high brain uptake (5 min, 2.77% dose/g; 30 min, 2.51% dose/g) and good brain/blood (B/B) ratios (5 min, 6/1; 30 min 3.8/1. A comparison of the brain uptake of the N-isopropyl derivative with the 2(RS)-aminopropyl analogue demonstrated higher initial brain uptake and brain to blood ratios (5 min, 3.2% dose/g; 10.3/1) but more rapid washout (30 min, 1.37% dose; 2.8/1). These data suggest that radiolabeled 2-(2(RS)-aminopropyl)-5-iodothiophenes are potentially useful agents for cerebral perfusion imaging by single-photon-emission computerized tomography (SPECT).