[18F]Fluoropropyl-TZTP (FP-TZTP) is a subtype-selective muscarinic cholinergic ligand with potential suitability for studying Alzheimer's disease. Positron emission tomography studies in isofluorane-anesthetized rhesus monkeys were performed to assess the in vivo behavior of this radiotracer. First, control studies (n = 11) were performed to characterize the tracer kinetics and to choose an appropriate model using a metabolite-corrected arterial input function. Second, preblocking studies (n = 4) with unlabeled FP-TZTP were used to measure nonspecific binding. Third, the sensitivity of [18F]FP-TZTP binding to changes in brain acetylcholine (ACh) was assessed by administering physostigmine, an acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor, by intravenous infusion (100 to 200 μg·kg−1·h−1) beginning 30 minutes before tracer injection (n = 7). Tracer uptake in the brain was rapid with K1 values of 0.4 to 0.6 mL·min−1·mL−1 in gray matter. A model with one tissue compartment was chosen because reliable parameter estimates could not be obtained with a more complex model. Volume of distribution ( V) values, determined from functional images created by pixel-by-pixel fitting, were very similar in cortical regions, basal ganglia, and thalamus, but significantly lower ( P < 0.01) in the cerebellum, consistent with the distribution of M2 cholinergic receptors. Preblocking studies with unlabeled FP-TZTP reduced V by 60% to 70% in cortical and subcortical regions. Physostigmine produced a 35% reduction in cortical specific binding ( P < 0.05), consistent with increased ACh competition. The reduction in basal ganglia (12%) was significantly smaller ( P < 0.05), consistent with its markedly higher AChE activity. These studies indicate that [18F]FP-TZTP should be useful for the in vivo measurement of muscarinic receptors with positron emission tomography.
Muscarinic cholinergic receptor in the human heart evidenced under physiological conditions by positron emission tomography.
