Functional characterization of 5-HT1B receptor drugs in nonhuman primates using simultaneous PET-MR

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

  • Hanne D. Hansen
  • Joseph B. Mandeville
  • Christin Y. Sander
  • Jacob M. Hooker
  • Ciprian Catana
  • Bruce R. Rosen
  • Knudsen, Gitte Moos

In the present study, we used a simultaneous PET-MR experimental design to investigate the effects of functionally different compounds (agonist, partial agonist, and antagonist) on 5-HT1B receptor (5-HT1BR) occupancy and the associated hemodynamic responses. In anesthetized male nonhuman primates (n = 3), we used positron emission tomography (PET) imaging with the radioligand [11C]AZ10419369 administered as a bolus followed by constant infusion to measure changes in 5-HT1BR occupancy. Simultaneously, we measured changes in cerebral blood volume (CBV) as a proxy of drug effects on neuronal activity. The 5-HT1BR partial agonist AZ10419369 elicited a dose-dependent biphasic hemodynamic response that was related to the 5-HT1BRoccupancy. The magnitude of the response was spatially overlapping with high cerebral 5-HT1BR densities. High doses of AZ10419369 exerted an extracranial tissue vasoconstriction that was comparable to the less blood– brain barrier-permeable 5-HT1BR agonist sumatriptan. By contrast, injection of the antagonist GR127935 did not elicit significant hemodynamic responses, even at a 5-HT1BRcerebral occupancy similar to the one obtained with a high dose of AZ10419369. Given the knowledge we have of the 5-HT1BR and its function and distribution in the brain, the hemodynamic response informs us about the functionality of the given drug: changes in CBV are only produced when the receptor is stimulated by the partial agonist AZ10419369 and not by the antagonist GR127935, consistent with low basal occupancy by endogenous serotonin.

Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Neuroscience
Volume37
Issue number44
Pages (from-to)10671-10678
Number of pages8
ISSN0270-6474
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2017

    Research areas

  • 5-HT, Nonhuman primates, PET-MR imaging, Pharmacology

ID: 188152447