Preclinical evaluation of new C-11 labeled benzo-1,4-dioxane PET radiotracers for brain α2C adrenergic receptors

Eur J Med Chem. 2022 Dec 5:243:114764. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114764. Epub 2022 Sep 17.

Abstract

As one of the nine subtypes of adrenergic receptors (ARs) in the brain, α2C-ARs play essential roles in emotion and memory, and are implicated in neuropsychiatric disorders, including depression, Alzheimer's disease, substance use disorder, and schizophrenia. A recently developed α2C-AR specific positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracer, [11C]ORM-13070, showed promise for imaging α2C-ARs in the brain. Herein, we prepared highly potent C-11 labeled benzo-1,4-dioxane derivatives and compared them with [11C]ORM-13070, aiming to improve the specific binding signal, as evaluated by in vivo rodent brain PET imaging.© 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Adrenergic receptors; Alpha-2c; Brain imaging; PET imaging; Small-molecule radiotracer.

MeSH terms

  • Brain / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Carbon Radioisotopes / metabolism
  • Piperazines* / metabolism
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2* / metabolism

Substances

  • 1,4-dioxane
  • Carbon-11
  • Carbon Radioisotopes
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2
  • Piperazines