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Title: [[sup 3]H]QNB displays in vivo selectivity for the m2 subtype

Journal Article · · Life Sciences; (United States)
; ;  [1];  [2]
  1. George Washington Univ. Medical Center, Washington, DC (United States)
  2. George Washington Univ. Medical Center, Washington, DC (United States) Univ. of Chicago Hospital, Chicago, IL (United States)

Alzheimer's disease (AD) involves selective loss of muscarinic m2, but not m1, subtype neuroreceptors in the posterior parietal cortex of the human brain. Emission tomographic study of the loss of m2 receptors in AD is limited by the fact that there is currently no available m2-selective radioligand which can penetrate the blood-brain barrier. [[sup 3]H](R)-3-quinuclidinylbenzilate ([[sup 3]H]QNB) is commonly used for performing in vitro studies of the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR), either with membrane homogenates or with autoradiographic slices, in which [[sup 3]H]QNB is nonsubtype-selective. We report here the results of in vivo studies, using both carrier-free and low specific activity [[sup 3]H]QNB, which show that [[sup 3]H]QNB exhibits a substantial in vivo m2-selectivity. Previously reported in vivo (R)-3-quinuclidinyl (R)-4-iodobenzilate ((R,R)-[[sup 125]I]lQNB) binding appears to be nonsubtype-selective. Apparently the bulky iodine substitution in the 4 position reduces the subtype selectivity of QNB. It is possible that a less bulky fluorine substitution might permit retention of the selectivity exhibited by QNB itself. We conclude that a suitably radiolabeled derivative of QNB, possibly labeled with [sup 18]F, may be of potential use in positron emission tomographic (PET) study of the loss of m2 receptors in AD. 39 refs., 8 figs., 2 tab.

DOE Contract Number:
FG05-88ER60649
OSTI ID:
6722998
Journal Information:
Life Sciences; (United States), Vol. 55:19; ISSN 0024-3205
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English