Rat thalamic α4β2 neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor occupancy assay using LC–MS/MS

Comparison of Various Chromatographic Systems for Analysis of Cytisine in Human Serum, Saliva and Pharmaceutical Formulation by HPLC with Diode Array, Fluorescence or Mass Spectrometry Detection

Background: Identification and quantitative determination of cytisine, especially in biological samples and pharmaceutical formulations, is still a difficult analytical task. Cytisine is an alkaloid with a small and very polar molecule. For this reason, it is very weakly retained on reversed phase (RP) stationary phases, such as commonly used alkyl-bonded phases. The very weak retention of cytisine causes it to be eluted together with the components of biological matrices. Objective: Comparison and evaluation of various chromatographic systems for analysis of cytisine in different matrices—serum, saliva and pharmaceutical formulation—by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with diode array (DAD), fluorescence (FLD) and mass spectrometry (MS) detection. Methods: The analyses were performed using HPLC in reversed phase (RP), hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) and ion exchange chromatography (IEC) modes. Different sample pre-treatment methods were tested: Protein precipitation (with acetone, methanol (MeOH) or acetonitrile (ACN), and solid phase extraction (SPE) using cartridges with octadecyl (C18), hydrophilic-lipophilic balanced copolymer (HLB) or strong cation exchange sorbents (Strata X-C). Conclusion: Significant differences were observed in retention parameters with a change of the used chromatographic system. The various properties of stationary phases resulted in differences in analyte retention, peaks’ shape and systems’ efficiency. The weakest retention was observed using RP systems; however, the use of the Polar RP phase can be an alternative for application in green chromatography. In the strongest retention was observed using a strong cation exchange (SCX) phase. The most optimal systems were chosen for the analysis of cytisine in the pharmaceutical preparation, serum and saliva after sample pre-treatment with the new SPE procedure. Due to the sensitivity, the use of HPLC-DAD or HPLC-FLD is the most optimal for drug analysis in pharmaceutical preparations, whereas HPLC-MS is suitable for analysis of cytisine in biological samples.

In vivo PET imaging of the α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor as a marker for brain inflammation after cerebral ischemia

PET imaging of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) could become an effective tool for the diagnosis and therapy evaluation of neurologic diseases. Despite this, the role of nAChRs α4β2 receptors after brain diseases such as cerebral ischemia and its involvement in inflammatory reaction is still largely unknown. To investigate this, we performed in parallel in vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) with 2[(18)F]-fluoro-A85380 and [(11)C]PK11195 at 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 d after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in rats. In the ischemic territory, PET with 2[(18)F]-fluoro-A85380 and [(11)C]PK11195 showed a progressive binding increase from days 3-7, followed by a progressive decrease from days 14-28 after cerebral ischemia onset. Ex vivo immunohistochemistry for the nicotinic α4β2 receptor and the mitochondrial translocator protein (18 kDa) (TSPO) confirmed the PET findings and demonstrated the overexpression of α4β2 receptors in both microglia/macrophages and astrocytes from days 7-28 after experimental ischemic stroke. Likewise, the role played by α4β2 receptors on neuroinflammation was supported by the increase of [(11)C]PK11195 binding in ischemic rats treated with the α4β2 antagonist dihydro-β-erythroidine hydrobromide (DHBE) at day 7 after MCAO. Finally, both functional and behavioral testing showed major impaired outcome at day 1 after ischemia onset, followed by a recovery of the sensorimotor function and dexterity from days 21-28 after experimental stroke. Together, these results suggest that the nicotinic α4β2 receptor could have a key role in the inflammatory reaction underlying cerebral ischemia in rats.

Brain uptake of a non-radioactive pseudo-carrier and its effect on the biodistribution of [(18)F]AV-133 in mouse brain

INTRODUCTION

9-[(18)F]Fluoropropyl-(+)-dihydrotetrabenazine ([(18)F]AV-133) is a new PET imaging agent targeting vesicular monoamine transporter type II (VMAT2). To shorten the preparation of [(18)F]AV-133 and to make it more widely available, a simple and rapid purification method using solid-phase extraction (SPE) instead of high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) was developed. The SPE method produced doses containing the non-radioactive pseudo-carrier 9-hydroxypropyl-(+)-dihydrotetrabenazine (AV-149). The objectives of this study were to evaluate the brain uptake of AV-149 by UPLC-MS/MS and its effect on the biodistribution of [(18)F]AV-133 in the brains of mice.

METHODS

The mice were injected with a bolus including [(18)F]AV-133 and different doses of AV-149. Brain tissue and blood samples were harvested. The effect of different amounts of AV-149 on [(18)F]AV-133 was evaluated by quantifying the brain distribution of radiolabelled tracer [(18)F]AV-133. The concentrations of AV-149 in the brain and plasma were analyzed using a UPLC-MS/MS method.

RESULTS

The concentrations of AV-149 in the brain and plasma exhibited a good linear relationship with the doses. The receptor occupancy curve was fit, and the calculated ED50 value was 8.165mg/kg. The brain biodistribution and regional selectivity of [(18)F]AV-133 had no obvious differences at AV-149 doses lower than 0.1mg/kg. With increasing doses of AV-149, the brain biodistribution of [(18)F]AV-133 changed significantly.

CONCLUSION

The results are important to further support that the improved radiolabelling procedure of [(18)F]AV-133 using an SPE method may be suitable for routine clinical application.

Aripiprazole in an animal model of chronic alcohol consumption and dopamine D₂ receptor occupancy in rats

BACKGROUND

Epidemiologic studies and clinical assessment of schizophrenic population have revealed a high incidence of overlap between schizophrenia and addictive disorders.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the present investigation was to study the effect of aripiprazole in a preclinical animal model of chronic alcohol self-administration (CASA) and also to evaluate the influence of CASA on plasma pharmacokinetics and dopamine D₂ receptor (D₂R) occupancy in rats.

METHODS

The effect of oral administration of aripiprazole (1, 3, and 10 mg/kg) on 4% alcohol intake in CASA was studied for a period of 45 min after a post-dosing interval of 60 min. Brain penetration, pharmacokinetics, and D₂R occupancy of aripiprazole were evaluated in normal and CASA rats.

RESULTS

Aripiprazole reduced alcohol consumption in CASA rats by 13, 28, and 86% at 1, 3, and 10 mg/kg, respectively, and the effect reached statistical significance at 10 mg/kg (p < .01). At this behavioral effective dose, a decrease (75%) in total plasma apparent clearance and an increase in oral area under the concentration-time curve (3.98-fold) and bioavailability (3.50-fold) of aripiprazole was observed in CASA rats. Striatal D₂R occupancy and brain exposure of aripiprazole were significantly higher (∼twofold) in CASA rats when compared to normal rats (p < .01).

CONCLUSION

Chronic alcohol intake results in a significant increase in exposure of aripiprazole in plasma and brain and striatal D₂R occupancy.

SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE

Chronic alcohol intake would increase aripiprazole exposure, thus aripiprazole dose might have to be decreased (assuming this same phenomenon occurs in humans).

LC-MS/MS method for the determination of pitolisant: application to rat pharmacokinetic and brain penetration studies

A simple and sensitive LC-MS/MS method was developed and validated for the quantitation of pitolisant, an H3 receptor antagonist/inverse agonist. Acetonitrile protein precipitation technique was used to prepare rat blood and brain tissue homogenate samples by using aripiprazole as internal standard (IS). Chromatographic separation was performed by using Xbridge column (2.1 × 50 mm, 3.5 µm) with a gradient elution program. The mobile phase consists of ammonium formate (10 mm) with 0.2% formic acid and acetonitrile. Multiple reaction monitoring mode was used in positive polarity with a transition of m/z 296.3 → 98.2 for the pitolisant and m/z 448.2 → 285.3 for the IS. The calibration curves were linear in the range of 0.1-100 ng/mL in both the blood and brain homogenate samples. This method was applied to quantify samples obtained from the pharmacokinetic and brain penetration studies in male wistar rats. Mean maximum concentration, area under the curve from zero to infinity and half-life of the pitolisant were found to be 3.4 ± 1.7 ng/mL, 5 ± 4 ng h/mL and 1.9 ± 0.3 h, respectively, after a 3 mg/kg oral dose. The mean calculated concentrations in the brain were found to be 38, 60 and 52 ng/g at 0.5, 1 and 2 h, respectively.

In-vivo rat striatal 5-HT4 receptor occupancy using non-radiolabelled SB207145

Objectives

The objective of the current investigation was to develop a simple, rapid method for determining in-vivo 5-hydroxytryptamine type 4 receptor (5-HT4R) occupancy in rat brain using non-radiolabelled SB207145 as a tracer for accelerating the drug discovery process.

Methods

In-vivo tracer optimization studies for tracer dose, survival intervals and brain distribution profile were carried out in rats. The tracer was pharmacologically validated using potent well-characterized 5-HT4R ligands. The brain regional concentrations of tracer (SB207145); plasma and brain concentrations of 5-HT4R ligands were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a tandem mass spectrometric detector (LC-MS/MS).

Key findings

SB207145 showed a higher specific binding in striatum (1.96 ng/g) and lower binding in cerebellum (0.66 ng/g), which is consistent with findings of other published 5-HT4R expression studies. Pretreatment with potent 5-HT4 ligands dose-dependently reduced striatal SB207145 concentration and the effective dose to achieve 50% receptor occupancy (ED50) values were 4.8, 2.0, 7.4, 9.9, 3.8 and 0.02 mg/kg for GR113808, piboserod, prucalopride, RS67333, TD8954 and PF04995274, respectively.

Conclusions

Results from the mass spectrometry approach to determine 5-HT4R occupancy in rat brain are comparable with those reported using radiolabelled scintillation spectroscopy methods. In conclusion, the LC-MS/MS characterization permits use of tracer at a preclinical stage in high-throughput fashion as well as characterization of target expression.

Methyllycaconitine: a non-radiolabeled ligand for mapping α7 neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors - in vivo target localization and biodistribution in rat brain

INTRODUCTION

Reduction of cerebral cortical and hippocampal α7 neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) density was observed in the Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative diseases. Mapping the subtypes of nAChRs with selective ligand by viable, quick and consistent method in preclinical drug discovery may lead to rapid development of more effective therapeutic agents. The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of methyllycaconitine (MLA) in non-radiolabeled form for mapping α7 nAChRs in rat brain.

METHODS

MLA pharmacokinetic and brain penetration properties were assessed in male Wistar rats. The tracer properties of MLA were evaluated in rat brain by dose and time dependent differential regional distribution studies. Target specificity was validated after blocking with potent α7 nAChR agonists ABBF, PNU282987 and nicotine. High performance liquid chromatography combined with triple quad mass spectral detector (LC-MS/MS) was used to measure the plasma and brain tissue concentrations of MLA.

RESULTS

MLA has shown rapid brain uptake followed by a 3-5 fold higher specific binding in regions containing the α7 nAChRs (hypothalamus - 1.60 ng/g), when compared to non-specific regions (striatum - 0.53 ng/g, hippocampus - 0.46 ng/g, midbrain - 0.37 ng/g, frontal cortex - 0.35 ng/g and cerebellum - 0.30 ng/g). Pretreatment with potent α7 nAChR agonists significantly blocked the MLA uptake in hypothalamus. The non-radiolabeled MLA binding to brain region was comparable with the α7 mRNA localization and receptor distribution reported for [(3)H] MLA in rat brain.

DISCUSSION

The rat pharmacokinetic, brain penetration and differential brain regional distribution features favor that MLA is suitable to use in preclinical stage for mapping α7 nAChRs. Hence, this approach can be employed as an essential tool for quicker development of novel selective ligand to map variation in the α7 receptor densities, as well as to evaluate potential new chemical entities targeting neurodegenerative diseases.