Skip to main content
EJNMMI Research
Download PDF
  • Original research
  • Open access
  • Published:

Candidate 3-benzazepine-1-ol type GluN2B receptor radioligands (11C-NR2B-Me enantiomers) have high binding in cerebellum but not to σ1 receptors

EJNMMI Research volume 13, Article number: 28 (2023) Cite this article

Abstract

Introduction

We recently reported 11C-NR2B-SMe ([S-methyl-11C](R,S)-7-thiomethoxy-3-(4-(4-methyl-phenyl)butyl)-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzo[d]azepin-1-ol) and its enantiomers as candidate radioligands for imaging the GluN2B subunit within rat N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors. However, these radioligands gave unexpectedly high and displaceable binding in rat cerebellum, possibly due to cross-reactivity with sigma-1 (σ1) receptors. This study investigated 11C-labeled enantiomers of a close analogue (7-methoxy-3-(4-(p-tolyl)butyl)-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzo[d]azepin-1-ol; NR2B-Me) of 11C-NR2B-SMe as new candidate GluN2B radioligands. PET was used to evaluate these radioligands in rats and to assess potential cross-reactivity to σ1 receptors.

Methods

NR2B-Me was assayed for binding affinity and selectivity to GluN2B in vitro. 11C-NR2B-Me and its enantiomers were prepared by Pd-mediated treatment of boronic ester precursors with 11C-iodomethane. Brain PET scans were conducted after radioligand intravenous injection into rats. Various ligands for GluN2B receptors or σ1 receptors were administered at set doses in pre-blocking or displacement experiments to assess their impact on imaging data. 18F-FTC146 and enantiomers of 11C-NR2B-SMe were used for comparison. Radiometabolites from brain and plasma were measured ex vivo and in vitro.

Results

NR2B-Me enantiomers showed high GluN2B affinity and selectivity in vitro. 11C-NR2B-Me enantiomers gave high early whole rat brain uptake of radioactivity, including high uptake in cerebellum, followed by slower decline. Radioactivity in brain at 30 min ex vivo was virtually all unchanged radioligand. Only less lipophilic radiometabolites appeared in plasma. When 11C-(R)-NR2B-Me was used, three high-affinity GluN2B ligands—NR2B-SMe, Ro25-6981, and CO101,244—showed increasing pre-block of whole brain radioactivity retention with increasing dose. Two σ1 receptor antagonists, FTC146 and BD1407, were ineffective pre-blocking agents. Together, these results strongly resemble those obtained with 11C-NR2B-SMe enantiomers, except that 11C-NR2B-Me enantiomers showed faster reversibility of binding. When 18F-FTC146 was used as a radioligand, FTC146 and BD1407 showed strong pre-blocking effects whereas GluN2B ligands showed only weak blocking effects.

Conclusion

11C-NR2B-Me enantiomers showed specific binding to GluN2B receptors in rat brain in vivo. High unexpected specific binding in cerebellum was not due to σ1 receptors. Additional investigation is needed to identify the source of the high specific binding.

Graphical Abstract

Key points

Question: Do GluN2B radioligands 11C-NR2B-Me enantiomers show cross-binding with σ1 receptors in brain in vivo?

Pertinent findings: 11C-(+)-NR2B-Me, 11C-(−)-NR2B-Me, 11C-(S)-NR2B-SMe, and 11C-(R)-NR2B-SMe give specific signals in whole rat brain that could be pre-blocked and displaced using ligands that specifically target GluN2B receptors, but not by σ1 ligand FTC-146.

Implications for patient care: 11C-(−)-NR2B-Me does not show cross-binding with σ1 receptor in rat brain using PET imaging. This radioligand may be promising for human PET imaging.

Introduction

N-Methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are widely expressed throughout the central nervous system (CNS) and are involved in synaptic plasticity, learning, and memory. They are ligand- and voltage-gated ion channels that mediate the influx of Ca2+, Na+, and K+ into the synapse [1]. NMDA receptors exist as diverse tetrameric subtypes because they are assemblies of four subunits selected from seven different subunit types [GluN1, GluN2 (GluN2A − GluN2D), and GluN3 (A or B)]. Consequently, NMDA receptor subtypes have distinct physiological roles and pharmacological properties. In particular, NMDA receptors are implicated in major neuropsychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, pain, and clinical depression [2,3,4,5]. These receptors, especially those enriched with GluN2B subunits, endow the prefrontal cortex with important functionality as well as vulnerability to environmental insults and to risk factors for psychiatric disorders [6].

Sigma (σ) receptors are widely expressed in the CNS [7] and may function as a chaperone to NMDA receptors [8, 9]. They are involved in many normal physiological functions, such as neuronal firing, neurotransmitter release, learning, memory, and neuroprotection, and in pathological processes such as drug abuse [10]. Two subtypes exist, σ1 and σ2 [11]. Only the σ1 receptor has been cloned and extensively investigated. Upon activation by agonists, σ1 receptors translocate from the endoplasmic reticulum to the plasma membrane where they modulate both voltage-gated [12,13,14,15,16] and ligand-gated ion channels [17,18,19], including NMDA receptors [20]. σ1 receptors are widely distributed across the brain, including at low to medium levels in the cerebellum [21]. Many ligands that preferentially bind to the GluN2B subunit within NMDA complexes show cross-reactivity for σ receptors. For example, two well-known GluN2B receptor ligands, ifenprodil [22] and eliprodil [23], cross-react strongly with σ1 receptors, as do some 3-benzazepine-1-ols [24, 25].

In a recent positron emission tomography (PET) study, we identified 11C-NR2B-SMe ([S-methyl-11C](R,S)-7-thiomethoxy-3-(4-(4-methyl-phenyl)butyl)-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzo[d]azepin-1-ol) and its enantiomers (Fig. 1) as candidate radioligands for imaging the GluN2B subunit of NMDA receptors within rat brain [26]. However, these 3-benzazepine-1-ol-type radioligands gave unexpectedly high and displaceable binding in rat cerebellum in vivo, suggesting that they might bind to an off-target site. Haider and colleagues [25] found that the (R)-enantiomer of the candidate 3-benzazepine-1-ol-type GluN2B radioligand 18F-OF-Me-NB1 (Fig. 1) was GluN2B receptor-preferring while the (S)-enantiomer was σ1 receptor-preferring in rodent brain in vitro. Although 18F-(R)-OF-Me-NB1 bound only a little to rodent cerebellum in vitro, PET imaging of rhesus monkeys found that this radioligand had only modest standardized uptake value ratios (SUVRs) relative to cerebellum of 1.37 (P = 0.001) for cortex, 1.30 (P = 0.002) for striatum, 1.36 (P = 0.003) for hippocampus, and 1.33 (P = 0.007) for thalamus.

Fig. 1
figure 1

Structures of GluN2B ligands and candidate GluN2B radioligands

Full size image

In this study, the enantiomers of NR2B-Me—a close structural analog of NR2B-SMe—were labeled with carbon-11 (t1/2 = 20.4 min) as candidate high-affinity GluN2B radioligands (see Supplementary Information). The study sought to compare the binding of these new radioligands in rat brain with those of 11C-NR2B-SMe enantiomers and with 18F-FTC146, a known, highly selective σ1 receptor PET radioligand [27]. Fixed doses of ligands for GluN2B receptors and σ1 receptors were also used as pre-blocking or displacing agents to assess whether any radioligand showed cross-reactivity between GluN2B and σ1 receptors in vivo.

Materials and methods

The Supporting Information provides all details on materials, general methods, statistics, measurement of absolute configuration, radiosyntheses, logD and pKa measurement, radiometabolite analysis, and PET imaging in rats.

All experimental protocols were approved by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Animal Care and Use Committee. All methods were carried out in accordance with the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (https://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/guide-for-the-care-and-use-of-laboratory-animals.pdf). The study was carried out in compliance with the ARRIVE guidelines. No human subject is involved.

Results

Physical and pharmacological properties of NR2B-Me and its enantiomers

Absolute configuration

(−)-NR2B-Me and (+)-NR2B-Me were tentatively assigned R and S configuration, respectively, by comparing their order of elution in chiral HPLC with that of NR2B-SMe enantiomers of known absolute configuration [26] (Additional file 1: Figure S1). The labeling precursors, ‘(−)-NR2B Boron’ and ‘(+)-NR2B Boron’, were also tentatively assigned R and S configurations, respectively (Additional file 1: Figure S2).

Pharmacological screen

NR2B-Me at 10 μM concentration only weakly inhibited the binding of reference radioligands to numerous binding sites and receptors, as recoded in the Additional file 1. At this concentration, inhibition was greater than 10% for only a few binding sites and receptors: the calcium channel (39.6%), the hERG channel (61.7%), the guinea pig σ1 receptor (89.7%), and the PC12 cell σ2 receptors (90.7%).

Binding affinities in vitro

The Ki value for NR2B-Me measured in vitro in mouse fibroblast cells expressing NMDA was 4.9 nM (Table 1). (−)-NR2B-Me had higher affinity (Ki, 42 nM) than its antipode (Ki, 91 nM) for σ1 receptors. Both enantiomers showed Ki values of ≥ 100 nM for σ2 receptors.

Table 1 Physical and pharmacological parameters of FTC146, NR2B-SMe, NR2B-Me, and their enantiomers
Full size table

Table 1 also compares the physical and pharmacological properties of NR2B-Me enantiomers with those of the putative GluN2B ligands, NR2B-SMe, and its enantiomers [26] as well as with the σ1 receptor ligand FTC146 [27].

Radiochemistry, and pKa and logD7.4 measurements

The precursors for the radiolabeling of 11C-NR2B-Me and its enantiomers were the corresponding boronic esters (Additional file 1: Figure S3). After reversed phase HPLC (see, for example, Additional file 1: Figure S4), each enantiomer of 11C-NR2B-Me was obtained ready for intravenous injection in 20 to 30% radiochemical yield from cyclotron-produced 11C-carbon dioxide and with molar activities of 58 to79 GBq/µmol in a radiosynthesis time of 40 min. Radiochemical purity was > 99% (Additional file 1: Figure S5). The pKa and logD7.4 of 11C-NR2B-Me were 5.03 and 3.07, respectively (Additional file 1: Figure S6).

Experiments with 11C-NR2B-Me in rats and human brain homogenates and plasma

Stability of 11C-NR2B-Me in rat whole blood, plasma, and brain in vitro and ex vivo

Formulated 11C-NR2B-Me was at least 98.4% radiochemically stable at room temperature for the period encompassing tissue stability measurements (up to 3 h). 11C-NR2B-Me was 70.3% unchanged in rat plasma and completely unchanged in rat whole blood and brain homogenate at 37 °C after 30 min (Additional file 1: Table S1–S3).

At least 5 radiometabolites eluted before 11C-NR2B-Me in the reversed phase HPLC analyses of rat plasma ex vivo (Additional file 1: Figure S7A). These radiometabolites had very little presence in rat brain ex vivo (Additional file 1: Figure S7B). Unchanged radioligand at 30 min after injection accounted for 46.2% of radioactivity in rat plasma and 99.5% of radioactivity in rat brain (Additional file 1: Table S3). The brain showed high ratios of radioligand concentration to that in plasma (Additional file 1: Table S4). Radioactivity in plasma accounted for only a low percentage of radioactivity in blood, and most was bound with proteins in blood. From HPLC, the radiometabolites observed ex vivo (Additional file 1: Figure S7) appeared to match those seen in vitro.

Stability in human brain and plasma homogenate, and human plasma free fraction

11C-NR2B-Me was stable in human brain homogenate (99.5%) and human plasma (100%) at room temperature for at least 30 min. The human plasma free fraction (fp) of 11C-NR2B-Me was 1.16% ± 0.14% (n = 3).

Evaluation of 11C-NR2B-Me enantiomers in rats using PET

Each 11C-NR2B-Me enantiomer gave similarly high and early peak radioactivity values in whole brain (~ 3.5 SUV within 3.5 min) after intravenous injection into rat (Additional file 1: Figure S8). The (−)-enantiomer (putative R-enantiomer) showed appreciably faster radioactivity decline from peak value than the (+)-enantiomer. In comparison, the enantiomers of 11C-NR2B-SMe showed very similar peak radioactivity uptake values but somewhat slower subsequent decline. Decline for the R-enantiomer was slightly faster than for the S-enantiomer (Additional file 1: Table S1-S2, Additional file 1: Figure S8).

Intravenous injection of the GluN2B ligand Ro-25-6981 at 10 min after each homochiral radioligand accelerated whole brain radioactivity washout (Fig. 2). The displacement of 11C-(−)-NR2B-Me was faster and more extensive than that of 11C-(+)-NR2B-Me. Thus, for a dose of 0.25 mg/kg of Ro-25-6981, displacement from peak value at 90 min reached 63% for 11C-(−)-NR2B-Me and 46% for 11C-(+)-NR2B-Me (Fig. 2).

Fig. 2
figure 2

Whole brain time-activity curves for 11C-(−)-NR2B-Me (A) and 11C-(+)-NR2B-Me (B) with different displacement doses of the GluN2B ligand Ro-25-6981 at 10 min after radioligand injection. Displacement by 0.25 mg/kg of Ro-25-6981 at 90 min for panel A was 63%, whereas that for panel B was 46%. Data are for n = 1

Full size image

A total of 14 regions were delineated on summed PET images of rat brain (0–90 min) (Additional file 1: Figure S9). Relatively high uptake was seen in the cortex and hippocampus. Lower levels were observed in the cerebellum, midbrain, and olfactory bulb (Fig. 3A). Intravenous administration of the GluN2B receptor ligand Ro-25-6981 (0.25 mg/kg) 10 min before 11C-NR2B-Me injection yielded peak uptake in brain regions, including cerebellum, that declined to a common level at 90 min, corresponding to about 10% of their peak values (Fig. 3B).

Fig. 3
figure 3

Time-activity curves for 11C-(−)-NR2B-Me in different regions of rat brain at baseline (A) and after pretreatment with Ro-25-6981 (0.25 mg/kg) (B). Data are for n = 1

Full size image

Lassen plots, using SUV as a surrogate for total binding of 11C-(−)-NR2B-Me or 11C-(+)-NR2B-Me in different regions of the rat brain at baseline and after pre-blocking with 0.25 mg/kg Ro-25-6981 gave slopes very close to unity, indicating near full receptor occupancy at this dose (Additional file 1: Figure S10). Non-displaceable binding given by the intercept on the X-axis of Lassen plots was, on average, about 0.42 SUV for each enantiomer. Estimates of BPND as (SUVBL/SUVND−1) were 5.0 for the whole rat brain. BPND for 11C-(−)-NR2B-Me in different rat brain regions was between 3.4 and 7.6 and for 11C-(+)-NR2B-Me was between 4.6 and 6.9 (Additional file 1: Figure S10).

Dose response of candidate GluN2B radioligands and 18F-FTC146 in whole rat brain to GluN2B pre-blocking agents

AUCs (Area Under Curve) between 20 and 90 min for 11C-(−)-NR2B-Me and 11C-(+)-NR2B-Me, and between 20 and 120 min for 18F-FTC146—all administered with different doses of the GluN2B pre-blocking agent Ro-25-6981 (Fig. 4)—were used to measure ED50 values (Table 2). Similar experiments were performed with CO101,244 as the preblocking agent and 11C-(+)-NR2B-Me as the radioligand (Additional file 1: Figure S11). The ED50 values for Ro-25-6981 and CO101,244 versus the GluN2B radioligands in vivo generally reflected their low Ki values measured in vitro. The ED50 values for (S)-NR2B-SMe versus 18F-FTC146 exceeded 1 µmol per kg body weight.

Fig. 4
figure 4

Blocking of whole brain radioactivity uptake in rat by dosing with the GluN2B ligand Ro-25-6981 before intravenous injection of 11C-(−)-NR2B-Me (A) or 11C-(+)-NR2B-Me (B), and the respective fitted dose–response curves of Ro-25 6981 from 11C-(−)-NR2B-Me, 11C-(+)-NR2B-Me, 11C-(S)-NR2B-SMe (ED50 = 34 nmol/kg, 45 nmol/kg, 29 nmol/kg) (C) and the respective fitted dose–response curves of Ro-25 6981 from 18F-FTC146, 11C-(S)-NR2B-SMe (ED50 = 1064 nmol/kg, 9.5 nmol/kg) (D). Data are for n = 1

Full size image
Table 2 In vitro and in vivo pharmacological parameters of GluN2B ligands
Full size table

Dose response of candidate GluN2B radioligands and 18F-FTC146 in whole rat brain to σ1 receptor antagonists

Pre-administration of either of two σ1 receptor antagonists (FTC146 or BD1047) had minimal effects on whole rat brain radioactivity uptake for 11C-(S)-NR2B-SMe or the 11C-NR2B-Me enantiomers (Fig. 5; Table 3). ED50 values for the σ1 antagonists for blockade of 18F-FTC146 whole brain radioactivity uptake were far lower, in line with their low σ1 receptor Ki values measured in vitro.

Fig. 5
figure 5

Rat whole brain uptake dose response for σ1 receptor radioligand 18F-FTC146 and GluN2B radioligands 11C-(−)-NR2B-Me, 11C-(+)-NR2B-Me, and 11C-(S)-NR2B-SMe to intravenous pre-administration of FTC146 (A) and BD1047 (B). Derived ED50 values are given in Table 3

Full size image
Table 3 In vitro and in vivo pharmacological parameters for σ1 receptor ligands (not identified as agonists)
Full size table

Dose response of candidate GluN2B radioligands and 18F-FTC146 in whole rat brain to σ1 receptor agonists

The putative σ1 receptor agonists, TC1 and SA4503, showed strong pre-blocking effects on the whole rat brain uptake of the 11C-NR2B-Me enantiomers (Additional file 1: Figure S12 and Figure S13, respectively) (Table 4).

Table 4 In vitro and in vivo pharmacological parameters for putative σ1 receptor agonists
Full size table

Discussion

Although NR2B-Me was found to have high affinity for GluN2B, its affinity was nevertheless lower than earlier candidate GluN2B radioligands such as 11C-NR2B-SMe [26] or 18F-(R)-OF-Me-NB1 [25]. Each NR2B-Me enantiomer showed relatively much lower affinity for σ1 and σ2 receptors than for GluN2B receptors in vitro.

The lipophilicity of a PET radioligand, as indexed by logD at pH 7.4, is a key property that influences many aspects of PET radioligand behavior in vivo, including brain entry, metabolism, and protein binding [28]. Here, the logD of 11C-NR2B-Me was found to be 3.27, which is close to that predicted by computation (2.98) and in the range for many successful CNS PET radioligands. The plasma free fraction (fp) of a PET radioligand can be an important parameter for quantifying a receptor target in brain with compartmental models. fp was low for 11C-NR2B-Me (1.16% ± 0.14%, n = 3) in human plasma but readily measurable with good precision. The apparent pKa of 11C-NR2B-Me was 5.04 ± 0.01 (n = 3). Therefore free radioligand would be almost completely uncharged at physiological pH and available for brain entry.

11C-NR2B-Me was virtually unchanged when exposed to rat whole blood (Additional file 1: Table S3). Thus, blood samples could be analyzed without concern over further radioligand decomposition before measurement. 11C-NR2B-Me was also highly stable in brain homogenates (Additional file 1: Table S3). At 30 min post-intravenous administration, unchanged radioligand represented virtually all rat brain radioactivity (> 99%), a finding that was highly favorable to pursuing further radioligand characterization. Unchanged radioligand represented 46.2% of radioactivity in plasma at 30 min post-intravenous injection of 11C-NR2B-Me, showing that peripheral metabolism in vivo was relatively slow (Additional file 1: Table S3). 11C-NR2B-Me was stable in human brain homogenate (99.5%) and human plasma (100%) at room temperature for at least 30 min.

11C-(-)-NR2B-Me and 11C-(+)-NR2B-Me were compared with 11C-(R)-NR2B-SMe and 11C-(S)-NR2B-SMe in rat brain at baseline (Additional file 1: Figure S8). Each radioligand gave high and early whole brain radioactivity uptake that thereafter slowly declined. The rank order of radioactivity decline from peak was 11C-(−)-NR2B-Me > 11C-(+)-NR2B-Me > 11C-(R)-NR2B-SMe > 11C-(S)-NR2B-SMe. This order may reflect the lower GluN2B binding affinity of NR2B-Me than NR2B-SMe when measured in vitro. The density of GluN2B has been measured at 5.6 pmol/mg of protein in rat hippocampus [29], equivalent to 560 nM, which is a very high value compared to many PET imaging targets in brain [30]. This may be why moderately high-affinity GluN2B radioligands showed more evidence of reversible binding than very high affinity radioligands over the 90-min time course in our PET experiments.

To further explore how these new radioligands bind reversibly with GluN2B receptors, both pre-blocking and displacement of the PET signal with GluN2B ligands were examined. When the highly selective GluN2B ligand Ro-25-6981 (0.25 mg/kg) was intravenously injected 10 min before the radioligand, the PET signal in whole rat brain was reduced by up to 90% of that at baseline (Fig. 3). When Ro-25-6981 was injected 10 min after radioligand injection, radioactivity in whole brain declined smoothly and dose-dependently, although not to the same low level achieved in pre-blocking experiments by 90 min post-injection in PET imaging (Fig. 2). Corresponding experiments with 11C-NR2B-SMe had shown less extensive reversibility [26].

NR2B-SMe ED50 values for preblocking PET imaging signals from 18F-FTC146 and 11C-(S)-NR2B-SMe are 1064 nmol/kg and 9.5 nmol/kg, respectively (Table 2), indicating strong preference for binding of NR2B-SMe to the GluN2B site. FTC146 ED50 values for preblocking PET signals from 18F-FTC146 and 11C-(S)-NR2B-SMe are 46 nmol/kg and 2571 nmol/kg, respectively (Table 2), indicating strong preference for binding of FTC146 to the σ1 site (Table 3, Fig. 5A). The pre-blocking effect of FTC146 was weak against all four GluN2B radioligands (Fig. 5A). The σ1 receptor antagonist BD1047 was also less effective at blocking putative GluN2B radioligand uptake than the uptake of the σ1 receptor radioligand 18F-FTC146 (Fig. 5B). Like Ro-25-6981, the GluN2B ligand CO101,244 (Additional file 1: Figure S11) was also an effective pre-blocking antagonist against all four GluN2B radioligands. Collectively, these results provide strong evidence that the 11C-NR2B-Me enantiomers are selective for binding to GluN2B over σ1 receptors in rat brain. When we calculated ED50 values, we assumed that the preblocking agent distributed inside the rat body uniformly, as suggested by the unit of mg/kg, which is the measure of dose. We did not try to measure arterial input function in rat. We cannot say whether the preblocking agent had any effect on radioligand arterial input function or the plasma free fraction (fp) in rat. We assume that they did not change greatly. The high linearity and slope of the Lassen plots appear consistent with these assumptions. We used the flat part of the time-activity curves to construct the Lassen plots, because these likely represent a pseudo or near equilibrium state for the radioligand brain uptake. We believe our ED50 estimates are reasonably inter-comparable.

As previously observed for 11C-(R)-NR2B-SMe and 11C-(S)-NR2B-SMe [26], the putative σ1 receptor agonists TC1 and SA4503 showed strong pre-blocking effects on the whole rat brain uptakes of 11C-(−)-NR2B-Me and 11C-(+)-NR2B-Me (Additional file 1: Figure S12 and Figure S13, respectively). This supports our previous suggestion that TC1 and SA4503 interact directly with the GluN2B receptor, unlike the tested σ1 receptor antagonists [26].

Thalamus and cortex are generally considered to be GluN2B-rich regions. Here, we found that radioactivity retention in brain regions such as thalamus, cortex, and cerebellum could be pre-blocked with GluN2B ligands (Fig. 3). Both 11C-(−)-NR2B-Me and 11C-(+)-NR2B-Me showed high specific PET signal in rat brain (Fig. 3), with BPND reaching 5 in in rat whole brain, as assessed with Lassen (SUV) plots (Additional file 1: Figure S10).

Our finding that 11C-(−)-NR2B-Me gives substantial specific binding in cerebellum that can be blocked by Ro-25-6981 matches our previous findings with 11C-(S)-NR2B-SMe [26]. Together, they are consistent with the moderately high specific binding of the GluN2B radioligand (R)-11C-Me-NB1 seen in rat cerebellum in vivo [24]. Sixty minutes after injection of (R)-11C-Me-NB1, PET scanning revealed that radioactivity concentration in cerebellum was 79, 74, 75, and 83% of that in cortex, hippocampus, striatum, and thalamus, respectively. Ex vivo autoradiography of rat brain at 15 min after radioligand injection showed relatively lower binding in cerebellum than in, for example, cortex. (R)-18F-OF-Me-NB1 has also showed binding in rat cerebellum in vivo that could be blocked with eliprodil [25]. At 30 min after intravenous injection, radioactivity in cerebellum was 73, 74, 77, and 75% of that in cortex, hippocampus, striatum, and thalamus, respectively. A recent study also found that an isomerically related radioligand, (R)-18F-PF-NB1 (Fig. 1), bound to rat cerebellum in vivo, and that this binding could be pre-blocked with eliprodil [31]. At 45 min after intravenous injection, radioactivity in cerebellum was 85, 110, 95, and 92% of that in cortex, hippocampus, striatum, and thalamus, respectively. In summary, all tested candidate GluN2B radioligands from the 3-benzazepine-1-ol type structural class appear to show appreciable binding to cerebellum in vivo. In some cases, such as for the radioligands reported here, this uptake could be substantially blocked by recognized GluN2B ligands, such as Ro-25-6981.

In vitro autoradiography with 3H-Ro-25-6981 [29] and Western blot analysis using different antibodies against GluN2B [32,33,34] have been used to measure GluN2B protein levels in different regions of rat brain, including cerebellum. The mRNA of GluN2B has also been measured using hybridization histochemistry [1, 35]. Both protein and mRNA measurements suggest that the concentration of GluN2B receptors should be low in rat cerebellum in vivo. 3H-Ro-25-6981 showed weak binding to rat brain cerebellum in vitro. However, in this study we found that but Ro-25-6981 blocked 11C-NR2B enantiomer uptake in rat cerebellum in vivo at doses that were also effective in the rest of brain. Thus, it is possible that Ro-25-6981 is not wholly selective for GluN2B but also has high affinity for an unknown binding site. It is also possible that radioligands in the 3-benzazepine-1-ol class have strong affinity for a non GluN2B binding site.

Conclusion

In this PET study, the new GluN2B radioligands 11C-(−)-NR2B-Me and 11C-(+)-NR2B-Me performed similarly to 11C-(R)-NR2B-SMe and 11C-(S)-NR2B-SMe but with faster washout from brain and more readily reversible specific binding to GluN2B receptors and with an absence of specific binding to σ1 receptors. However, the specific binding in cerebellum was unexpected from prior in vitro studies, and further investigation is warranted to unequivocally identify this binding. 18F-FTC146 is an established σ1 receptor PET radioligand, and this study further attests to its selectivity in vivo by showing a lack of cross reaction with GluN2B receptors.

Supplementary information

The Supplementary Information file has information on: Materials: General methods; Chiral separations; Absolute configurations; Binding assay results; Radiosyntheses; LogD and pKa values; Radiometabolite analyses; Rat radioligand experiment results; Experiments with radioligands in human issue; Properties of NR2B-Me; Radiochemical stability; Additional file 1: Tables S1–S4; Additional file 1: Figures S1–S13.

Availability of data and materials

Not applicable.

References

  1. Hansen KB, Yi F, Perszyk RE, et al. Structure, function, and allosteric modulation of NMDA receptors. J Gen Physiol. 2018;150:1081–105.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  2. Li XH, Miao HH, Zhuo M. NMDA receptor dependent long-term potentiation in chronic pain. Neurochem Res. 2018;3:531–8.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Theibert HPM, Carroll BT. NMDA antagonists in the treatment of catatonia: a review of case studies from the last 10 years. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2018;51:132–3.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Lau CG, Zukin RS. NMDA receptor trafficking in synaptic plasticity and neuropsychiatric disorders. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2007;8:413–26.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Zorumski CF, Izumi Y. NMDA receptors and metaplasticity: mechanisms and possible roles in neuropsychiatric disorders. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2012;36:989–1000.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  6. Monaco SA, Gulchina Y, Gao WJ. NR2B subunit in the prefrontal cortex: a double-edged sword for working memory function and psychiatric disorders. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2015;56:127–38.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  7. Weissman AD, Su TP, Hedreen JC, London ED. Sigma receptors in post-mortem human brains. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1988;247:29–33.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Chu UB, Ruoho AE. Biochemical pharmacology of the sigma-1 receptor. Mol Pharmacol. 2016;89:142–53.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Pabba M, Wong AY, Ahlskog N, et al. NMDA receptors are upregulated and trafficked to the plasma membrane after sigma-1 receptor activation in the rat hippocampus. J Neurosci. 2014;34:11325–38.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  10. Maurice T, Su TP. The pharmacology of sigma-1 receptors. Pharmacol Ther. 2009;124:195–206.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  11. Rousseaux CG, Greene SF. Sigma receptors [sigmaRs]: biology in normal and diseased states. J Recept Signal Transduct Res. 2016;36:327–88.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Lupardus PJ, Wilke RA, Aydar E, et al. Membrane-delimited coupling between sigma receptors and K+ channels in rat neurohypophysial terminals requires neither G-protein nor ATP. J Physiol. 2000;526(Pt 3):527–39.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  13. Aydar E, Palmer CP, Klyachko VA, Jackson MB. The sigma receptor as a ligand-regulated auxiliary potassium channel subunit. Neuron. 2002;34:399–410.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Tchedre KT, Huang RQ, Dibas A, Krishnamoorthy RR, Dillon GH, Yorio T. Sigma-1 receptor regulation of voltage-gated calcium channels involves a direct interaction. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2008;49:4993–5002.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Zhang H, Katnik C, Cuevas J. Sigma receptor activation inhibits voltage-gated sodium channels in rat intracardiac ganglion neurons. Int J Physiol Pathophysiol Pharmacol. 2009;2:1–11.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  16. Kinoshita M, Matsuoka Y, Suzuki T, Mirrielees J, Yang J. Sigma-1 receptor alters the kinetics of Kv1.3 voltage gated potassium channels but not the sensitivity to receptor ligands. Brain Res. 2012;1452:1–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  17. Martina M, Turcotte ME, Halman S, Bergeron R. The sigma-1 receptor modulates NMDA receptor synaptic transmission and plasticity via SK channels in rat hippocampus. J Physiol. 2007;578:143–57.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Zhang XJ, Liu LL, Jiang SX, Zhong YM, Yang XL. Activation of the zeta receptor 1 suppresses NMDA responses in rat retinal ganglion cells. Neuroscience. 2011;177:12–22.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Zhang XJ, Liu LL, Wu Y, Jiang SX, Zhong YM, Yang XL. sigma receptor 1 is preferentially involved in modulation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-mediated light-evoked excitatory postsynaptic currents in rat retinal ganglion cells. Neurosignals. 2011;19:110–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Pabba M, Sibille E. Sigma-1 and N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors: a partnership with beneficial outcomes. Mol Neuropsychiatry. 2015;1:47–51.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  21. Kitaichi K, Chabot JG, Moebius FF, Flandorfer A, Glossmann H, Quirion R. Expression of the purported sigma(1) (sigma(1)) receptor in the mammalian brain and its possible relevance in deficits induced by antagonism of the NMDA receptor complex as revealed using an antisense strategy. J Chem Neuroanat. 2000;20:375–87.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Avenet P, Leonardon J, Besnard F, et al. Antagonist properties of the stereoisomers of ifenprodil at NR1A/NR2A and NR1A/NR2B subtypes of the NMDA receptor expressed in Xenopus oocytes. Eur J Pharmacol. 1996;296:209–13.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Lengyel C, Dezsi L, Biliczki P, et al. Effect of a neuroprotective drug, eliprodil on cardiac repolarisation: importance of the decreased repolarisation reserve in the development of proarrhythmic risk. Br J Pharmacol. 2004;143:152–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  24. Haider A, Herde AM, Kramer SD, et al. Preclinical evaluation of benzazepine-based PET radioligands (R)- and (S)-(11)C-Me-NB1 reveals distinct enantiomeric binding patterns and a tightrope walk between GluN2B- and sigma1-receptor-targeted PET imaging. J Nucl Med. 2019;60:1167–73.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  25. Haider A, Iten I, Ahmed H, et al. Identification and preclinical evaluation of a radiofluorinated benzazepine derivative for imaging the GluN2B subunit of the ionotropic NMDA receptor. J Nucl Med. 2019;60:259–66.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  26. Cai L, Liow JS, Morse CL, et al. Evaluation of (11)C-NR2B-SMe and its enantiomers as PET radioligands for imaging the NR2B subunit within the NMDA receptor complex in rats. J Nucl Med. 2020;61:00–000.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. James ML, Shen B, Zavaleta CL, et al. New positron emission tomography (PET) radioligand for imaging sigma-1 receptors in living subjects. J Med Chem. 2012;55:8272–82.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  28. Pike VW. Considerations in the development of reversibly binding PET radioligands for brain imaging. Curr Med Chem. 2016;23:1818–69.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  29. Mutel V, Buchy D, Klingelschmidt A, et al. In vitro binding properties in rat brain of [3H]Ro 25-6981, a potent and selective antagonist of NMDA receptors containing NR2B subunits. J Neurochem. 1998;70:2147–55.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Patel S, Gibson R. In vivo site-directed radiotracers: a mini-review. Nucl Med Biol. 2008;35:805–15.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Ahmed H, Haider A, Varisco J, et al. Structure-affinity relationships of 2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine and 6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-benzo[7]annulen-7-amine analogues and the discovery of a radiofluorinated 2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine congener for imaging GluN2B subunit-containing N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors. J Med Chem. 2019;62:9450–70.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Jin DH, Jung YW, Ko BH, Moon IS. Immunoblot analyses on the differential distribution of NR2A and NR2B subunits in the adult rat brain. Mol Cells. 1997;7:749–54.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Wang YH, Bosy TZ, Yasuda RP, et al. Characterization of NMDA receptor subunit-specific antibodies: distribution of NR2A and NR2B receptor subunits in rat brain and ontogenic profile in the cerebellum. J Neurochem. 1995;65:176–83.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Chen G, Li Q, Feng D, Hu T, Fang Q, Wang Z. Expression of NR2B in different brain regions and effect of NR2B antagonism on learning deficits after experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage. Neuroscience. 2013;231:136–44.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Akazawa C, Shigemoto R, Bessho Y, Nakanishi S, Mizuno N. Differential expression of five N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunit mRNAs in the cerebellum of developing and adult rats. J Comp Neurol. 1994;347:150–60.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Fischer G, Mutel V, Trube G, et al. Ro 25–6981, a highly potent and selective blocker of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors containing the NR2B subunit. Characterization in vitro. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1997;283:1285–92.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Zhou ZL, Cai SX, Whittemore ER, et al. 4-Hydroxy-1-[2-(4-hydroxyphenoxy)ethyl]-4-(4-methylbenzyl)piperidine: a novel, potent, and selective NR1/2B NMDA receptor antagonist. J Med Chem. 1999;42:2993–3000.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Shen B, James ML, Andrews L, et al. Further validation to support clinical translation of [(18)F]FTC-146 for imaging sigma-1 receptors. EJNMMI Res. 2015;5:49.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  39. McCracken KA, Bowen WD, de Costa BR, Matsumoto RR. Two novel σ receptor ligands, BD1047 and LR172, attenuate cocaine-induced toxicity and locomotor activity. Eur J Pharmacol. 1999;370:225–32.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Liu X, Banister SD, Christie MJ, et al. Trishomocubanes: novel sigma ligands modulate cocaine-induced behavioural effects. Eur J Pharmacol. 2007;555:37–42.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Matsuno K, Nakazawa M, Okamoto K, Kawashima Y, Mita S. Binding properties of SA4503, a novel and selective sigma 1 receptor agonist. Eur J Pharmacol. 1996;306:271–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Kawamura K, Ishiwata K, Tajima H, et al. In vivo evaluation of [(11)C]SA4503 as a PET ligand for mapping CNS sigma(1) receptors. Nucl Med Biol. 2000;27:255–61.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Lever JR, Gustafson JL, Xu R, Allmon RL, Lever SZ. Sigma1 and sigma2 receptor binding affinity and selectivity of SA4503 and fluoroethyl SA4503. Synapse. 2006;59:350–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Cagnotto A, Bastone A, Mennini T. [3H](+)-pentazocine binding to rat brain sigma 1 receptors. Eur J Pharmacol. 1994;266:131–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Prezzavento O, Campisi A, Ronsisvalle S, et al. Novel sigma receptor ligands: synthesis and biological profile. J Med Chem. 2007;50:951–61.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Maurice T, Su TP, Parish DW, Nabeshima T, Privat A. PRE-084, a sigma selective PCP derivative, attenuates MK-801-induced impairment of learning in mice. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 1994;49:859–69.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Su TP, Wu XZ, Cone EJ, et al. Sigma compounds derived from phencyclidine: identification of PRE-084, a new, selective sigma ligand. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1991;259:543–50.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Walker JM, Bowen WD, Walker FO, Matsumoto RR, De Costa B, Rice KC. Sigma receptors: biology and function. Pharmacol Rev. 1990;42:355–402.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the Intramural Research Program of NIH, specifically NIMH. We also thank the NIH PET Department for carbon-11 production, PMOD Technologies for image analysis software, and the Psychoactive Drug Screening Program (Director: Bryan L. Roth, PhD and project officer Jamie Driscoll (NIMH) at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill; contract # NO1MH32004) for performing in vitro binding assays. Ms. Ioline Henter (NIMH) provided invaluable editorial assistance.

Funding

Open Access funding provided by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This study was funded by the Intramural Research Program of the National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health (IRP-NIMH-NIH, ZIA-MH002795 and ZIA-MH002793).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Molecular Imaging Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, 10 Center Dr, Bldg 10, Room B3 C346, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA

    Lisheng Cai, Jeih-San Liow, Cheryl L. Morse, Sanjay Telu, Riley Davies, Lester S. Manly, Sami S. Zoghbi, Robert B. Innis & Victor W. Pike

  2. Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Department of Radiology, Stanford University, 1201 Welch Road, Rm. PS049, Stanford, CA, 94305-584, USA

    Frederick T. Chin

Authors
  1. Lisheng Cai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jeih-San Liow
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Cheryl L. Morse
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Sanjay Telu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Riley Davies
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Lester S. Manly
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Sami S. Zoghbi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Frederick T. Chin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Robert B. Innis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Victor W. Pike
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

LC, planning, radiosynthesis, writing; J-SL, PET imaging; CLM, radiosynthesis, ST, radiosynthesis, RD, chemical synthesis; LSM, metabolite and input function determination; SSZ, metabolite, input function determination, manuscript revision; FTC, chemical synthesis; RBI, planning, PET imaging; VWP, planning, manuscript revision. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lisheng Cai.

Ethics declarations

Ethics approval and consent to participate

Not applicable.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors have no conflict of interest to disclose, financial or otherwise.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary Information

Additional file 1

. Supplementary Methods, Tables and Figures.

Rights and permissions

Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article's Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article's Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Cai, L., Liow, JS., Morse, C.L. et al. Candidate 3-benzazepine-1-ol type GluN2B receptor radioligands (11C-NR2B-Me enantiomers) have high binding in cerebellum but not to σ1 receptors. EJNMMI Res 13, 28 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13550-023-00975-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13550-023-00975-6

Keywords