[125/123I]IPH: A radioiodinated analog of epibatidine for in vivo studies of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors

Abstract

Tomographic imaging of central nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) via single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) has been hampered by the lack of a radioligand with suitable in vivo binding characteristics. Therefore, a novel analog of epibatidine, (±)-exo-2-(2- iodo-5-pyridyl)-7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane (IPH), labeled with [125I] or [123I] was evaluated as an in vivo marker of central nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). [125I]IPH showed substantial brain penetration (4.2% of the injected dose at 30 min) and a cerebral biodistribution in mice consistent with the in vivo labeling of nAChRs (% injected dose/gram of thalamus, superior colliculi >> cerebellum). [125I]IPH ..