Feasibility of 2–deoxy–2–[18F]fluoro–D–glucose– A85380–PET for imaging of human cardiac nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in vivo

• Published in: Clinical research in cardiology 2006-06, Vol.95 (6), p.354-354
• Main Authors: Bucerius, Jan, Joe, Alexius Y., Schmaljohann, Jörn, Gündisch, Daniela, Minnerop, Martina, Biersack, Hans-Jürgen, Wüllner, Ullrich, Reinhardt, Michael J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Nicotine; Volunteers
• ISSN: 1861-0684; 1861-0692
• DOI: 10.1007/s00392-006-0397-4

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors mediate the parasympathetic autonomic control of cardiac function. Aim of this study was the assessment of cardiac nicotinic acetylcholine receptor distribution with a novel (α^sub 4^β^sub 2^) nicotinic acetylcholine receptor PET ligand (2-deoxy-2- [^sup 18^F]fluoro-D-glucose-A85380) in humans. Five healthy volunteers without cardiac disease and six patients with either Parkinson's disease or multiple system atrophy without additional overt cardiac disease were evaluated with 2-deoxy-2-[^sup 18^F]fluoro-D-glucose-A85380 PET-imaging to assess the cardiac parasympathetic innervation and the putative impact of both disorders. 2-deoxy-2- [^sup 18^F]fluoro-D-glucose-A85380 whole body PET-scans were performed on a Siemens PET/CT biograph^sup TM^ 75.4 min±6.7 after i.v. injection of 371.2±58.1 MBq. Average count rate density of left ventricle ROI's and a standard ROI in the right lung were measured within three consecutive slices of 10.0 mm thickness. Heart-to-lung ratios were calculated in each volunteer and patient. Tracer uptake in the left ventricle could be measured in all of the five volunteers and the six patients. Heart-to-lung ratios in the volunteer group were not different from patients suffering from Parkinson's disease or MSA (3.2 ± 0.5 vs 3.2 ± 0.8 and 2.96±0.7, mean ± SD), respectively. Human cardiac nicotinic acetylcholine receptors can be visualized and measured by 2-deoxy-2- [^sup 18^F]fluoro-D-glucose-A85380 PET scans both in cardiac-healthy subjects and patients suffering from Parkinson's disease or multiple system atrophy. The heart- as well as the lung-tracer uptake was almost constant throughout all subjects leading to a good target-to-background ratio. These first results suggest no impact of either PD or MSA on cardiac nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]