Cigarette smoking in amounts used by typical daily smokers leads to nearly complete occupancy of alpha 4 beta 2* nAChRs, indicating that tobacco-dependent smokers maintain alpha 4 beta 2* nAChR saturation throughout the day. Because prolonged binding of nicotine to alpha 4 beta 2* nAChRs is associated with desensitization of these receptors, the extent of receptor occupancy found herein suggests that smoking may lead to withdrawal alleviation by maintaining nAChRs in the desensitized state.

In an effort to develop selective radioligands for in vivo imaging of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), we synthesized 5-iodo-3-(2(S)-azetidinylmethoxy)pyridine (5-iodo-A-85380) and labeled it with 125 I and 123 I. Here we present the results of experiments characterizing this radioiodinated ligand in vitro. The affinity of 5-[ 125 I]iodo-A-85380 for ␣4␤2 nAChRs in rat and human brain is defined by K d values of 10 and 12 pM, respectively, similar to that of epibatidine (8 pM). In contrast to epibatidine, however, 5-iodo-A-85380 is more selective in binding to the ␣4␤2 subtype than to other nAChR subtypes. In rat adrenal glands, 5-iodo-A-85380 binds to nAChRs containing ␣3 and ␤4 subunits with 1/1000th the affinity of epibatidine, and exhibits 1/60th and 1/190th the affinity of epibatidine at ␣7 and muscle-type nAChRs, respectively. Moreover, unlike epibatidine and cytisine, 5-[ 125 I]iodo-A-85380 shows no binding in any brain regions in mice homozygous for a mutation in the ␤2 subunit of nAChRs. Binding of 5-[125 I]iodo-A-85380 in rat brain is reversible, and is characterized by high specificity and a slow rate of dissociation of the receptor-ligand complex (t 1/2 for dissociation ϳ2 h). These properties, along with other features observed previously in in vivo experiments (low toxicity, rapid penetration of the blood-brain barrier, and a high ratio of specific to nonspecific binding), suggest that this compound, labeled with 125 I or 123 I, is superior to other radioligands available for in vitro and in vivo studies of ␣4␤2 nAChRs, respectively.Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are excitatory ligand-gated cation channels that are widely distributed in mammalian organisms, appearing in the central and peripheral nervous systems, neuromuscular junctions, and adrenal glands. The nAChR channel complex is composed of five protein subunits, which form a pore that is permeable to Na ϩ , K ϩ , and Ca 2ϩ (Lindstrom, 1995;Holladay et al., 1997).To date, ␣, ␤, ␥, ␦, and ⑀ subunits have been isolated and cloned from mammalian and avian tissues, with nine varieties of ␣ and four varieties of ␤ subunits identified. The ␣1, ␤1, ␥, ␦, and ⑀ subunits form the neuromuscular junction receptor, the very first nAChR to be characterized. The other subunits (␣2-␣9 and ␤2-␤4) are found predominantly throughout the nervous system (Lindstrom, 1995;Holladay et al., 1997). This subunit diversity affords a large potential for a variety of nAChR subtypes, exhibiting distinct cationconducting properties and pharmacological heterogeneity. Based on binding properties and pharmacological sensitivity, major nAChR subtypes in mammalian brain can be categorized as ␣-bungarotoxin-sensitive (␣7) and ␣-bungarotoxin-insensitive (e.g., ␣4␤2) (Lindstrom, 1995;Holladay et al., 1997). Accordingly, 125 I-␣-bungarotoxin has been the radioligand of choice for in vitro characterization of the ␣7 subtype of nAChR, whereas tritiated agonists, such as nico-

External imaging of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) using techniques such as PET would help to clarify the roles of these receptors in the physiology and pathology of brain function. Here we report the results of quantitative PET studies of cerebral nAChRs with 2-[(18)F]fluoro-A-85380 (2-[(18)F]FA) in rhesus monkeys. Data from dynamic PET scans were analyzed using graphical methods. Binding potential (BP) values of 2.0, 0.4, 0.3, and 0.03 observed in the thalamus (Th), cortex (Cx), striatum (Str), and cerebellum (Cb), respectively, were consistent with the pattern of alpha(4)beta(2) nAChR distribution in monkey brain. The high value of 2-[(18)F]FA-specific binding in the rhesus monkey Th and low level of that in Cb compared with nonspecific accumulation of radioactivity in these structures allowed use of Cb as a reference region for calculation of BP and volume of distribution of specific binding (VDsb) in Th by graphical methods, both with and without the plasma input function. In contrast, estimation of 2-[(18)F]FA specific binding in low-receptor-density regions such as Cx and Str required assessment of nondisplaceable volume of distribution (VDnd) in a separate study and measurement of nonmetabolized radioligand concentrations in the plasma. For accurate quantitation of 2-[(18)F]FA-specific binding by graphical analysis, PET studies should last up to 7 h due to the slow kinetics of 2-[(18)F]FA brain distribution. Further, to avoid substantial underestimation in measured BP values the doses of administered 2-[(18)F]FA should not exceed 0.1 nmol/kg body weight. The findings suggest that 2-[(18)F]FA is a promising ligand for quantitation of nAChRs in human brain.

Noninvasive imaging of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in the human brain in vivo is critical for elucidating the role of these receptors in normal brain function and in the pathogenesis of brain disorders. Here we report the first in vivo visualization of human brain areas containing nAChRs by using PET and 2-[18F]fluoro-3-(2(S)azetidinylmethoxy)pyridine (2-[18F]FA). We acquired scans from six healthy non-smoking volunteers after i.v. bolus administration of 2-[18F]FA (1.6 MBq/kg or 0.043 +/- 0.002 mCi/kg). This dose was sufficient for visualizing nAChRs in the thalamus up to 5 h after injection. There were no adverse effects associated with administration of no-carrier-added 2-[18F]FA (1.3-10 pmol/kg). Consistent with the distribution of nAChRs in human brain, accumulated radioactivity was greatest in thalamus, intermediate in the midbrain, pons, cerebellum, and cortex; and least in white matter. As approximately 90% of the injected radioactivity was eliminated via the urine (biological half-life ca. 4 h), the urinary bladder wall received the highest radiation dose. The estimate of radiation dose equivalent to the urinary bladder wall (ca. 180 +/- 30 mSv/MBq or 0.7 rem/mCi with a 2.4 h void interval) suggests that multiple studies could be performed in a single subject. The results predict that quantitative PET imaging of nAChRs in human brain with 2-[18F]FA is feasible.

3-(2(S)-Azetidinylmethoxy)pyridine (A-85380) has been identified recently as a ligand with high affinity for nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). Here we report the synthesis and in vitro nAChR binding of a series of 10 pyridine-modified analogues of A-85380. The novel compounds feature a halogen substituent at position 2, 5, or 6 of the 3-pyridyl fragment. Those with the substituents at position 5 or 6, as well as the 2-fluoro analogue, possess subnanomolar affinity for nAChRs in membranes from rat brain. For these ligands, Ki values range from 11 to 210 pM, as measured by competition with (+/-)-[3H]epibatidine. In contrast, 2-chloro, 2-bromo, and 2-iodo analogues exhibit substantially lower affinity. AM1 quantum chemical calculations demonstrate that the bulky substituents at position 2 cause notable changes in the molecular geometry. The high-affinity members of the series and (+)-epibatidine display a tight fit superposition of low-energy stable conformers. The new ligands with high affinity for nAChRs may be of interest as pharmacological probes, potential medications, and candidates for developing radiohalogenated tracers to study nAChRs.

Prenatal nicotine exposure has been linked to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and cognitive impairment, but the sites of action for these effects of nicotine are still under investigation. High-affinity nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) contain the beta2 subunit and modulate passive avoidance (PA) learning in mice. Using an inducible, tetracycline-regulated transgenic system, we generated lines of mice with expression of high-affinity nicotinic receptors restored in specific neuronal populations. One line of mice shows functional beta2 subunit-containing nAChRs localized exclusively in corticothalamic efferents. Functional, presynaptic nAChRs are present in the thalamus of these mice as detected by nicotine-elicited rubidium efflux assays from synaptosomes. Knock-out mice lacking high-affinity nAChRs show elevated baseline PA learning, whereas normal baseline PA behavior is restored in mice with corticothalamic expression of these nAChRs. In contrast, nicotine can enhance PA learning in adult wild-type animals but not in corticothalamic-expressing transgenic mice. When these transgenic mice are treated with doxycycline in adulthood to switch off nAChR expression, baseline PA is maintained even after transgene expression is abolished. These data suggest that high-affinity nAChRs expressed on corticothalamic neurons during development are critical for baseline PA performance and provide a potential neuroanatomical substrate for changes induced by prenatal nicotine exposure leading to long-term behavioral and cognitive deficits.

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The in vivo brain regional distribution of 2-[18F]fluoro-A-85380, a novel tracer for positron emission tomographic (PET) studies, followed the regional densities of brain nAChRs reported in the literature. Evidence of binding to nAChRs and high specificity of the binding in vivo was demonstrated by inhibition with nAChR selective ligands as well as with unlabeled 2-fluoro-A-85380. A preliminary toxicology study of the 2-fluoro-A-85380 showed a relatively low biological effect. 2-[18F]Fluoro-A-85380 holds promise as a useful radiotracer for imaging of nAChRs with PET.