F-19 NUCLEAR-MAGNETIC-RESONANCE SPECTROSCOPY OF NEUROLEPTICS - THE 1ST INVIVO PHARMACOKINETICS OF TRIFLUOPERAZINE IN THE RAT-BRAIN AND THE 1ST INVIVO SPECTRUM OF FLUPHENAZINE IN THE HUMAN BRAIN

In vivo F-19 nuclear magnetic resonance (F-19-NMR) spectroscopy measurements of trifluorinated neuroleptics (fluphenazine-FL and trifluoperazine-TFP) were made in rat brain as well as in human brain. Animal studies were performed at 4.7 Tesla. Using rats that have been treated with FL over a period of 3 weeks, a NMR signal could be detected within 8-15 min. Following a single intravenous injection of TFP, brain levels could be monitored with a time resolution of 30 min. The first F-19-NMR examination of a patient was made at 3.0 Tesla 1 day after injection of FL decanoate (37.5 mg) in the course of which a signal could be detected within 30 min. It is expected that F-19-NMR will become an important tool in psychopharmacological research.