Investigation of the use of positron emission tomography for neuroreceptor imaging in rabbit eyes

Radiochemistry: A Useful Tool in the Ophthalmic Drug Discovery

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Single Photon Emission Computerized Tomography (SPECT) are ultra-sensitive, fully translational and minimally invasive nuclear imaging techniques capable of tracing the spatiotemporal distribution of positron (PET) or gamma (SPECT) emitter-labeled molecules after administration into a living organism. Besides their impact in the clinical diagnostic, PET and SPECT are playing an increasing role in the process of drug development, both during the evaluation of the pharmacokinetic properties of new chemical entities as well as in the proof of concept, proof of mechanism and proof of efficacy studies. However, they have been scarcely applied in the context of ophthalmic drugs. In this paper, the basics of nuclear imaging and radiochemistry are briefly discussed, and the few examples of the use of these imaging modalities in ophthalmic drug development reported in the literature are presented and discussed. Finally, in a purely theoretical exercise, some labeling strategies that could be applied to the preparation of selected ophthalmic drugs are proposed and potential applications of nuclear imaging in ophthalmology are projected.

Ocular Biodistribution Studies using Molecular Imaging

Classical methodologies used in ocular pharmacokinetics studies have difficulties to obtain information about topical and intraocular distribution and clearance of drugs and formulations. This is associated with multiple factors related to ophthalmic physiology, as well as the complexity and invasiveness intrinsic to the sampling. Molecular imaging is a new diagnostic discipline for in vivo imaging, which is emerging and spreading rapidly. Recent developments in molecular imaging techniques, such as positron emission tomography (PET), single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), allow obtaining reliable pharmacokinetic data, which can be translated into improving the permanence of the ophthalmic drugs in its action site, leading to dosage optimisation. They can be used to study either topical or intraocular administration. With these techniques it is possible to obtain real-time visualisation, localisation, characterisation and quantification of the compounds after their administration, all in a reliable, safe and non-invasive way. None of these novel techniques presents simultaneously high sensitivity and specificity, but it is possible to study biological procedures with the information provided when the techniques are combined. With the results obtained, it is possible to assume that molecular imaging techniques are postulated as a resource with great potential for the research and development of new drugs and ophthalmic delivery systems.

Study on retinal dopamine transporter in form deprivation myopia using the radiopharmaceutical tracer 99mTc-TRODAT-1

PURPOSE

To investigate the distributions and changes in dopamine transporters (DATs) using Tc-TRODAT-1 ([Tc-(2((2-(((3-(4-chlorophenyl)-8-methyl-8-azabicyclo(3,2,1)-oct-2-yl)-methyl)(2-mercaptoethyl)amino)ethyl)amino)ethane-thiolato(3-)-N2,N2',S2,S2)oxo-(1R-(exo-exo)))]) in form deprivation myopia retina.

METHODS

Pigmented guinea pigs aged 3 weeks were randomly assigned into two groups: form-deprivation myopia and normal control group. The test group wore a translucent goggle covering randomly for 4 weeks, and both groups underwent biometric measurement before and after the experiment. Both Micro-single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging and ex-vivo autoradiography were performed with the injection of Tc-TRODAT-1 on the 4th week for all the guinea pigs.

RESULTS

The retinas were clearly resolved with Tc-TRODAT-1 in both Micro-SPECT imaging and ex-vivo autoradiography. In Micro-SPECT imaging, the ratio of Tc-TRODAT-1 uptake in the myopic retinas (11.55+/-2.80) was 3.64+/-1.40 lower than that in the normal control eyes (15.20+/-1.98, P=0.026, F=2.94, t=2.605), and 2.35+/-1.05 lower than that in the fellow eyes (13.90+/-2.04, P=0.003, t=5.476). In ex-vivo autoradiography, the ratio of Tc-TRODAT-1 uptake in the myopic retina (95.52+/-12.04) was 18.54+/-5.86 lower than in the normal control eyes (114.06+/-7.81, P=0.01, F=0.331, t=3.164), and was 16.95+/-5.78 lower than in the fellow eyes (112.47+/-15.67, P=0.001, t=7.179).

CONCLUSION

Tc-TRODAT-1 can be used to trace the distributions and changes in DAT in the retina. DATs in the myopic retinas were lower than that in the fellow and normal control eyes. Radionuclide tracing may provide a new approach in vivo for further studies on the dopamine system in myopia.