11C-SCH 39166, a selective ligand for visualization of dopamine-D1 receptor binding in the monkey brain using PET

The new selective D₁-dopamine receptor antagonist SCH 39166 was labelled with the positron emitting isotope¹¹C and used as ligand for visualization of dopamine-D₁ receptor binding in Cynomolgus monkeys by PET. After intravenous administration of the ligand a marked uptake of radioactivity was recorded in the D₁-dopamine receptor-rich striatum and neocortex but not in the dopamine receptor-poor cerebellum. The uptake of radioactivity in striatum and neocortex was markedly displaced after the intravenous injection of a high dose of the D₁-dopamine receptor antagonist SCH 23390 but not after the 5-HT₂ receptor antagonist ketanserine.¹¹C-SCH 39166 should be a useful tool to explore D₁-dopamine receptor characteristics in the living human brain by PET.     

PET examination of [11C]NNC 687 and [11C]NNC 756 as new radioligands for the D1-dopamine receptor

The benzazepines NNC 687 and NNC 756 have in animal studies been described as selective D₁-dopamine receptor antagonists. Both compounds have been labeled with¹¹C for examination by positron emission tomography (PET). In the present study central receptor binding was studied in monkeys and healthy men. After IV injection of both radioligands in Cynomolgus monkeys radioactivity accumulated markedly in the striatum, a region with a high density of D₁-dopamine receptors. This striatal uptake was displaced by high doses of the selective D₁-antagonist SCH 23390 (2 mg/kg) but not by the 5HT₂-antagonist ketanserin (1.5 mg/kg) or the selective D₂-antagonist raclopride (3 mg/kg). The cortical uptake after injection of [¹¹C]NNC 687 was not reduced in displacement experiments with ketanserin. The cortical uptake of [¹¹C]NNC 756 was reduced in displacement and protection experiments with ketanserin by 24–28% (1.5 mg/kg), whereas no reduction could be demonstrated on striatal uptake. In healthy males both compounds accumulated markedly in the striatum. For [¹¹C]NNC 687 the ratio of radioactivity in the putamen to cerebellum was about 1.5. For [¹¹C]NNC 756 the ratio was about 5. This ratio of 5 for [¹¹C]NNC 756 is the highest obtained so far for PET radioligands for the D₁-dopamine receptor.     

Selective D1- and D2-dopamine receptor blockade both induces akathisia in humans — a PET study with [11C]SCH 23390 and [11C]raclopride

Pharmacological effects were recorded and time course for receptor binding in brain was followed by positron emission tomography after IV injection of the selective D₁-dopamine receptor antagonist SCH 23390 in four healthy subjects in doses of 310–810 µg. Akathisia, the syndrome of motor restlessness, appeared after the three highest doses. The akathisia was transient and occurred only when [¹¹C]SCH 23390 binding in the basal ganglia was at a high level with a central D₁-dopamine receptor occupancy of 45–59%. The D₂-dopamine receptor antagonist [¹¹C]raclopride was injected IV into 20 healthy subjects and 13 schizophrenic patients. Akathisia appeared in 14 healthy subjects and 7 patients and coincided with maximal [¹¹C]raclopride binding in the basal ganglia. The findings for [¹¹C]raclopride and [¹¹C]SCH 23390 are the first demonstration of a relationship between time courses for radioligand binding in the human brain and simultaneously induced pharmacological effects.     

Oral administration of NNC 756 — a placebo controlled PET study of D1-dopamine receptor occupancy and pharmacodynamics in man

NNC 756 is a new benzazepine with high affinity and selectivity for D₁-dopamine receptors. In a double-blind, placebo controlled, cross-over study, positron emission tomography and the radioligand [¹¹C]SCH 23390 were used to determine central D₁-do-pamine receptor occupancy after a single oral dose of 80 mg NNC 756 in three healthy men. NNC 756 induced 75, 66 and 47% occupancy of D₁-dopamine receptors in the putamen of at 1.5 h after drug administration and 46, 36 and 24% after 7.5 h. There was a hyperbolic relationship between the occupancy values and the serum concentrations. The K_i value for the hyperbola was 6.4 ng/ml (±SD 1.4). The occupancy at 1.5 h is on the same level as that shown to induce effects in animal models for prediction of antipsychotic effect. Restlessness (akathisia) appeared in two subjects and nausea in one subject at time of peak drug concentration in serum. The oral dose level of 80 mg should be appropriate to investigate the potential antipsychotic effect of NNC 756.     

A PET-study of [11C]FLB 457 binding to extrastriatal D2-dopamine receptors in healthy subjects and antipsychotic drug-treated patients

We recently developed [¹¹C]FLB 457 a substituted benzamide with the very high affinity of 20 pM for D₂-dopamine receptors in vitro. The aim of the present exploratory study was to examine the anatomical distribution of [¹¹C]FLB 457 binding in the human brain and to determine extrastriatal D₂-receptor occupancy in antipsychotic drug-treated patients. [¹¹C]raclopride was used to obtain reference values for D₂-dopamine receptor occupancy in the putamen. After IV injection of [¹¹C]FLB 457 there was a high concentration of radioactivity, not only in the caudate putamen but also in the thalamus and the temporal cortex. The concentration of radioactivity in the frontal cortex, the substantia nigra and the colliculi was slightly higher than in the cerebellum. Pretreatment with haloperidol and fluphenazine indicated that [¹¹C]FLB 457 binding in extrastriatal regions to a high degree represents specific binding to D₂-dopamine receptors. The D₂-occupancy in antipsychotic drug-treated patients was on the same level in the thalamus and the temporal cortex as that determined with [¹¹C]raclopride in the putamen. The study shows that [¹¹C]FLB 457 has potential for quantitative PET-examination of D₂-dopamine receptors in man. Received: 24 March 1997 /Final version: 5 May 1997     

Metabolism of the PET ligand [11C]SCH 23390. Identification of two radiolabelled metabolites with HPLC

[¹¹C]SCH 23390 is a radioligand used for PET determination of the D₁-dopamine receptor in the living human brain. An HPLC procedure was developed for analysis of [¹¹C]SCH 23390 and its radiolabelled metabolites in plasma after injection of the radioligand into human subjects in realtion to PET studies. After i.v. injection [¹¹C]SCH 23390 rapidly declined from plasma, about 50 per cent of the radioligand remaining unchanged after 4 min and about 10 per cent after 40 min. The decline followed a biexponential time course. Two of the probable metabolites, the O-sulphate and the O-glucuronide of SCH 23390 were synthesized and characterized. Two radioactive substances in plasma co-migrated with these reference compounds.     

Central 5-HT2A and D2 dopamine receptor occupancy after sublingual administration of ORG 5222 in healthy men

It has been suggested that a combined blockade of 5-HT_2A and D₂-dopamine receptors improves efficacy and reduces the risk for extrapyramidal symptoms when treating schizophrenic patients with antipsychotic drugs. ORG 5222 is a new potential anti-psychotic drug which has high affinity for 5-HT_2A, D₂-dopamine and α₁ adrenergic receptors in vitro. The objective of this study was to examine if ORG 5222 occupies 5-HT_2A and D₂-dopamine receptors in human subjects in vivo. Central receptor occupancy was measured by positron emission tomography (PET) in three healthy subjects after sublingual administration of 100 μg ORG 5222. [¹¹C]N-methylspiperone ([¹¹C] NMSP) was the radioligand used to measure 5-HT_2A receptor binding in the neocortex and [¹¹C]raclopride to measure D₂-dopamine receptor binding in the striatum. The 5-HT_2A occupancy was 15–30% and the D₂-dopamine receptor occupancy was 12–23%. The study confirms that ORG 5222 binds to 5-HT_2A and D₂-dopamine receptors in human brain. Since receptor occupancy of ORG 5222 is rather low, doses higher than 100 μg are suggested in future clinical trials to evaluate the antipsychotic drug effect of ORG 5222. Received: 9 September 1996 / Final version: 2 January 1997     

Binding of [3H]SCH 39166 to Human Post Mortem Brain Tissue

Abstract: The dopamine D₁ antagonist SCH 39166 was labelled with tritium and used for in vitro binding and autoradiography using human post mortem brain tissue. Competition studies on tissue from human nucleus caudatus showed that SCH 23390 inhibited the binding of [³H]SCH 39166 biphasically. The non-specific binding of [³H]SCH 39166 in both nucleus caudatus and cerebellum was lower after the addition of SCH 23390 or SCH 39166 than after flupentixol (10 μM). Autoradiography showed specific [³H]SCH 39166 binding in the caudate nucleus and putamen in the brain sections. The binding of [³H]SCH 39166 in the medial part of the caudate nucleus was very dense and similar to that obtained with [³H]SCH 23390, which was used as a reference ligand. Dense binding of [³H]SCH 39166 was also found in cortical regions, and binding was also obtained in the cerebellum and in the hippocampus. Addition of flupentixol (10 μM) abolished some but not all the binding of [³H]SCH 39166. The binding of [³HJSCH 39166 to caudate and putamen was not totally abolished by the addition of excess SCH 23390, while excess SCH 39166 diminished the binding of [³H]SCH 23390 in all regions. The present study indicates that [³H]SCH 39166, similar to [³H]SCH 23390, binds to dopamine D₁ receptors in the human brain. It is concluded that [³H]SCH 39166 has a slightly different binding pattern than [³H]SCH 23390, which can be due to labelling of one or two additional binding site(s) pharmacologically unrelated to dopamine D₁ receptors.     

5-HT2 and D2 dopamine receptor occupancy in the living human brain

It has been suggested that a combined blockade of 5-HT₂ and D₂ dopamine receptors may be superior to D₂ dopamine antagonists alone in the treatment of schizophrenia. Risperidone, which has a high affinity for 5-HT₂ and D₂ dopamine receptors in vitro, is a new antipsychotic drug that has been developed according to this hypothesis. The aim of this study was to examine if risperidone indeed induces 5-HT₂ and D₂ dopamine receptor occupancy in vivo in humans. Central receptor occupancy was examined by positron emission tomography (PET) in three healthy men after oral administration of 1 mg risperidone. [¹¹C]N-methylspiperone ([¹¹C]NMSP) was used as a radioligand for determination of 5-HT₂ receptor occupancy in the neocortex. Both an equilibrium ratio analysis and a kinetic three-compartmental analysis indicated a 5-HT₂ receptor occupancy about 60%. [¹¹C]raclopride was used as a radioligand for determination of D₂ dopamine receptor occupancy in the striatum and the calculated occupancy was about 50%. This is the first quantitative determination of 5-HT₂ receptor occupancy induced by an antipsychotic drug in the living human brain. The results indicate that 5-HT₂ receptor occupancy should be very high at the dose level of 4–10 mg risperidone daily, as suggested for clinical use. Risperidone is thus an appropriate compound for clinical evaluation of the benefit of combined 5-HT₂ and D₂ dopamine receptor blockade in the treatment of schizophrenia.This paper was presented in part at the XVIIIth C.I.N.P. Congress, Nice, France, 28th June-2nd July 1992.     

High 5-HT2 receptor occupancy in clozapine treated patients demonstrated by PET

The clinical benefit of the atypical antipsychotic drug clozapine may be related to a combined effect on D₂ and 5-HT₂ receptors. To examine the basis for this hypothesis, positron emission tomography (PET) and the radioligand [¹¹C]N-methylspiperone were used to determine cortical 5-HT₂ receptor occupancy in three psychotic patients treated with 125 mg, 175 mg and 200 mg clozapine daily. The uptake of [¹¹C]N-methylspiperone in the frontal cortex was very low compared to that in neuroleptic naive schizophrenic patients. 5-HT₂ receptor occupancy calculated in the clozapine treated patients was 84%, 87% and 90%. The results show that clinical treatment with clozapine induces a high 5-HT₂ receptor occupancy in psychotic patients at a low dose level.     

Antipsychotics possessing antidepressive efficacy increase G<Subscript>olf</Subscript> protein in rat striatum

Rationale Paliperidone ER is a novel antipsychotic drug in an extended-release (ER) formulation. As with all antipsychotics, careful dose setting is necessary to avoid side effects. Objectives In this study, we measured striatal and extrastriatal dopamine D₂ receptor occupancy during paliperidone ER treatment in patients with schizophrenia using positron emission tomography (PET) to compare regional occupancy and to estimate the optimal dose. Materials and methods Thirteen male patients with schizophrenia participated in this 6-week multiple-dose study. Six of them took 3 mg of paliperidone ER per day, four took 9 mg, and three took 15 mg. Two to 6 weeks after first drug intake, two PET scans, one with [¹¹C]raclopride and one with [¹¹C]FLB 457, were performed in each patient on the same day. The relationship between the dose or plasma concentration of paliperidone and dopamine D₂ receptor occupancy was calculated. Results The dopamine D₂ receptor occupancies in the striatum measured with [¹¹C]raclopride and the temporal cortex measured with [¹¹C]FLB 457 were 54.2–85.5% and 34.5–87.3%, respectively. ED₅₀ values of the striatum and temporal cortex were 2.38 and 2.84 mg/day, respectively. There was no significant difference in dopamine D₂ receptor occupancy between the striatum and the temporal cortex. Conclusions The data from this study suggest that paliperidone ER at 6–9 mg provides an estimated level of dopamine D₂ receptor occupancy between 70–80% and that the magnitude of dopamine D₂ receptor occupancy is similar between the striatum and temporal cortex.     

PET analysis of human dopamine receptor subtypes using 11C-SCH 23390 and 11C-raclopride

Tracer doses of ¹¹C-SCH 23390 and ¹¹C-raclopride, selective D1-dopamine and D2-dopamine receptor antagonists, respectively, were injected intravenously into three healthy male volunteers and two drug-treated schizophrenic patients. Regional radioactivity in brain and plasma was followed during 1 h by positron emission tomography (PET). After injection of both ligands a high accumulation of radioactivity was observed in the dopamine-rich caudate putamen. Experiments with ¹¹C-SCH 23390, but not ¹¹C-raclopride, showed a conspicuous accumulation of radioactivity also in the neocortex. None of the ligands accumulated in the dopamine-poor cerebellum. Specific binding of ¹¹C-raclopride in the putamen was reduced by more than 80% in schizophrenic patients treated with antipsychotic doses of sulpiride or cis(Z)-flupentixol decanoate. ¹¹C-SCH 23390 binding was slightly reduced in both the cortex and the putamen after treatment with cis(Z)-flupentixol decanoate but not after sulpiride. The results indicate that clinical antipsychotic drug treatment with sulpiride and cis(Z)-flupentixol decanoate causes a substantial blockade of D2-dopamine receptors in the basal ganglia but has only a minor effect on D1-dopamine receptors.     

Autoradiographic localisation of D3-dopamine receptors in the human brain using the selective D3-dopamine receptor agonist (+)-[3H]PD 128907

The selective D₃-dopamine receptor agonist 4aR,10bR-(+)-trans-3,4,4a,10b-tetrahydro-4-[N-propyl-2,3-³H]-2H,5H-[1]benzopyrano[4,3-b]-1,4-oxazin-9-ol ([³H]PD 128907) was used to visualise D₃-dopamine receptors in whole hemisphere cryosections from post-mortem human brain. [³H]PD 128907 has an 18- to 40-fold selectivity for D₃- over D₂-dopamine receptors as compared to a 7- to 24-fold selectivity of the more commonly used ligand [³H]7-OH-DPAT. [³H]PD 128907 accumulated markedly in the nucleus accumbens and in the ventral parts of caudate nucleus and putamen, with a slightly heterogeneous (patch-matrix like) distribution. The binding in the lateral parts of caudate nucleus and putamen was much less dense. No binding was obtained in any other regions. A very high proportion of [³H]PD 128907 was specifically bound, as judged from the low binding remaining in the presence of the D₂/D₃-dopamine receptor antagonist raclopride. This gives the ligand a potential for the detection of low density D₃-dopamine receptors in the human brain. The binding obtained with [³H]PD 128907 was qualitatively similar to that using [³H]7-OH-DPAT in the presence of GTP. However, [³H]7-OH-DPAT labelled, in contrast to [³H]PD 128907, also D₃-dopamine receptors in neocortex. The new compound [³H]PD 128907 appears to be a suitable radioligand for autoradiographic examination of the D₃-dopamine receptor localisation in the human brain, and should also be useful for pharmacological studies of this receptor subtype. Received: 20 November 1995/Final version: 2 May 1996     

Effects of age on dopamine D2 receptor availability in striatal subdivisions: A high-resolution positron emission tomography study

The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between age and dopamine D₂ receptor availability in striatal subdivisions of young and middle-aged healthy subjects using high-resolution positron emission tomography (PET) with [¹¹C]raclopride to better characterize the nature of age-related decrements in striatal D₂ receptor availability. Twenty-four healthy volunteers completed 3-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging and high-resolution [¹¹C]raclopride PET scans. The analyses using linear and exponential models revealed that age had a significant negative correlation with D₂ receptor availability in the post-commissural putamen (postPU) and that D₂ receptor binding in the postPU decreased significantly more with age than in the ventral striatum, suggesting subregional differences in age-related changes in D₂ receptor binding. The postPU, which belongs to the sensorimotor striatum, may be particularly vulnerable to the effects of age in young and middle-aged subjects.     

Biphasic locomotor effects of the dopamine D1 agonist SKF 38393 and their attenuation in non-habituated mice

The locomotor stimulatory effects of the dopamine D₁ receptor partial agonist SKF 38393 were examined in male C57B1/6J mice. Non-habituated mice showed marked dose-related (3–300 mg/kg, SC) locomotor stimulation. The time-course effect was biphasic at very high doses (100–300 mg/kg), with dose-related locomotor depression followed by dose-related long-term hyperlocomotion. For all doses, locomotor effects were detectable throughout the 4-h test period. To determine whether these effects were mediated by D₁ receptor stimulation, effects of SKF 38393 were assessed in combination with behaviorally inactive and active doses (0.1 and 0.2 mg/kg, respectively) of the selective D₁ receptor antagonist SCH 39166. Both doses of SCH 39166 attenuated the hyperlocomotion induced by 30 mg/kg of the agonist to a similar degree. However, neither dose was able to reverse either the depressant or the stimulatory effects of 300 mg/kg SKF 38393. These results demonstrate effects of the prototypical D₁ agonist previously unobserved, and raise questions concerning the nature of agonist/antagonist interactions at the D₁ receptor subtype.     

Differential effects of the D1-DA receptor antagonist SCH39166 on positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia

In the present open study the effects of the D₁-dopamine antagonist SCH 39166 on positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia (DSM-IIIR) were investigated. SCH 39166 was given orally according to a fixed dosage schedule (day 1: 25 mg b.i.d; day 4: 50 mg b.i.d.; day 7: 100 mg b.i.d; day 18: 200 mg b.i.d.; day 21: 225 mg b.i.d.). Seven patients completed 2 weeks, and five patients completed the study. The reason for premature withdrawal was lack of efficacy or refusal to take SCH 39166. In none of the patients a reduction of the BPRS or CGI score was found. As measured with the PANSS, a significant reduction was observed in the score of the negative subscale, whereas the positive symptoms scale and general psychopathology score remained unaffected. Akathisia, rigidity and hypokinesia were reported occasionally, although only mild in severity. The results of the present study do not support the hypothesis that D₁-dopamine antagonists are clinically effective antipsychotics in schizophrenia, considering the fact that SCH 39166 had no effect on positive symptoms. The present study provides circumstantial evidence for an effect of SCH 39166 on negative symptoms.     

Determination of dopamine D2 receptor occupancy by lurasidone using positron emission tomography in healthy male subjects

Rationale

A positron emission tomography (PET) study of dopamine D₂ receptor occupancy was conducted to support a rational dose selection for clinical efficacy studies with lurasidone, an atypical antipsychotic that was approved for the treatment of schizophrenia by the FDA in late 2010.

Objectives

To determine the dopamine D₂ receptor occupancy of lurasidone in the ventral striatum, putamen and caudate nucleus, and to characterize the relationship between lurasidone serum concentration and D₂ receptor occupancy.

Methods

A single oral dose of lurasidone (10, 20, 40, 60, or 80 mg) was administered sequentially to healthy male subjects (n?=?4 in each cohort). Two PET scans were performed. For each scan, 20 mCi of [¹¹C]raclopride was administered intravenously as a bolus injection, followed immediately by 90 min of PET scan acquisitions.

Results

The D₂ receptor occupancy levels were 41–43 % for 10 mg, 51–55 % for 20 mg, 63–67 % for 40 mg, 77–84 % for 60 mg, and 73–79 % for 80 mg of lurasidone. The relationship between D₂ receptor occupancy and the mean serum lurasidone concentration during the PET scan (C _PET) was similar for the putamen, caudate nucleus, and ventral striatum regions. Mean D₂ receptor occupancy levels correlated well with average peak serum concentration of lurasidone.

Conclusions

In healthy volunteers, single doses of lurasidone 40–80 mg resulted in D₂ receptor occupancy levels of >60 %, a level of receptor occupancy previously associated with clinical response for atypical antipsychotics.     

A PET study of D1-like dopamine receptor ligand binding

Rationale: Several positron emission tomography (PET) studies have shown that radioligand binding to D₂-like dopamine receptors competes with endogenous dopamine. Objective: The purpose of this PET study was to examine the effect of amphetamine and reserpine on D₁-like dopamine receptor binding. Methods: Three Cynomolgus monkeys were examined with the radioligands [¹¹C]SCH 23390 or [¹¹C]NNC 112 at baseline condition and after pretreatment with amphetamine (2 mg/kg IV). The B/F values (binding potential) in the striatum and the neocortex were calculated at transient equilibrium. In two monkeys, the effect of the long-lasting dopamine depletion after reserpine (1 mg/kg IV) was followed by a repeated Scatchard procedure in up to 77 days after drug administration. The Scatchard analysis was based on two PET measurements with high and low specific radioactivity and allowed the calculation of D₁-like dopamine receptor density (B_max) and apparent affinity (K_D ^app). Results: The effect of amphetamine on the B/F values was between –14 and 6%. These changes can be considered as within the range of the test-retest reliability. Thus, there was no evident effect of amphetamine-induced dopamine release on D₁-like dopamine receptor binding. Five hours after reserpine administration, there was no change in B_max or K_D ^app. At 3, 23, and 28 days after reserpine administration, the Scatchard analyses indicated a 13–20% reduction in B_max without any evident change in K_D ^app in both the striatum and the neocortex. Conclusions: The lack of evident effects of amphetamine and reserpine on D₁-like dopamine receptor binding is markedly different from the 20% amphetamine-induced decrease and 50% reserpine-induced increase that has been consistently reported for D₂-like dopamine receptor binding. The data indicated that D₁-like dopamine receptor occupancy of endogenous dopamine is low at physiological condition. It is thus unlikely that D₁-like dopamine receptor radioligands can be used to measure changes in the concentration of endogenous dopamine. Received: 8 March 1999 / Final version: 12 May 1999     

Savoxepine: striatal dopamine-D2 receptor occupancy in human volunteers measured using positron emission tomography (PET)

Summary The extent and duration of striatal dopamine-D₂ receptor occupancy by savoxepine in humans has been studied using positron emission tomography with [¹¹C]-raclopride, in order to investigate why the anticipated favourable ratio between its extrapyramidal and antipsychotic effects was not achieved in practice.After 0.25 mg savoxepine, striatal D₂ receptor occupancy peaked at 50–60% after 24–36 h and disappeared within 6 days. After doses of 0.1 mg to 0.5 mg, D₂ receptor occupancy in the putamen and caudate nucleus increased from 20 to 70% 3–7 h after administration and amounted to 40 to 75% at the peak time (20–29 h).This suggests that cumulative D₂ receptor blockade would occur if equal or increasing doses of savoxepine were given repeatedly. Extrapyramidal adverse-effects would be likely to occur under such circumstances. An adequate test of the theory that preference for hippocampal dopamine D₂ receptors with afford a good therapeutic ratio requires an alternative dosing regimen.     

Dose-dependent binding of AZD3783 to brain 5-HT1B receptors in non-human primates and human subjects: a positron emission tomography study with [11C]AZ10419369

Rationale

The serotonin 5-HT_1B receptor is a potential target for the pharmacologic treatment of depression. Positron emission tomography (PET) determination of 5-HT_1B receptor occupancy with drug candidates targeting this receptor in non-human primate and human subjects may facilitate translation of research from animal models and guide dose selection for clinical studies. AZD3783 is a recently developed, orally bioavailable 5-HT_1B receptor antagonist with potential antidepressant properties.

Objectives

To determine the relationship between plasma concentration of AZD3783 and occupancy at primate brain 5-HT_1B receptors using PET and the radioligand [¹¹C]AZ10419369.

Methods

PET studies with [¹¹C]AZ10419369 were performed in three non-human primates at baseline and after intravenous injection of AZD3783. Subsequently, PET measurements were undertaken in six human subjects at baseline and after administration of different single oral doses of AZD3783 (1?C40?mg).

Results

After administration in non-human primates and human subjects, AZD3783 reduced regional [¹¹C]AZ10419369 binding in a dose-dependent and saturable manner. The AZD3783 plasma concentration required for 50% receptor occupancy (K _i,plasma) for monkeys was 25 and 27?nmol/L in occipital cortex and striatum, respectively. Corresponding estimates for human occipital cortex and ventral striatum were 24 and 18?nmol/L, respectively.

Conclusions

The potential antidepressant AZD3783 binds in a saturable manner to brain 5-HT_1B receptors with a similar in vivo affinity for human and monkey receptors. [¹¹C]AZ10419369 can be successfully used to determine occupancy at brain 5-HT_1B receptors in vivo and constitutes a useful tool for dose selection in clinical studies with 5-HT_1B receptor compounds.