PET imaging of dopamine D2 receptors with [18F]fluoroclebopride in monkeys:: Effects of isoflurane- and ketamine-induced anesthesia

The purpose of the present study was to determine whether positron emission tomography (PET) studies in monkeys with the dopamine (DA) D-2 receptor ligand [F-18]fluroclebopride (FCP) would be significantly influenced by anesthetic induction with isoflurane (similar to 5.0%) compared to induction with 10 mg/kg ketamine. Five experimentally-naive adult male cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) were trained to sit calmly in a primate restraint chair. Before thefirst PET scan, each monkey was anesthetized, by mask, with isoflurane. After complete sedation, the monkey was intubated and anesthesia was maintained throughout the PET study by isoflurane (similar to 1.5%). At least 1 month later, a second PET study was conducted in which anesthesia was induced with ketamine and maintained by isoflurane (similar to 1.5%). Irrespective of induction anesthetic, there teas a high uptake of[F-18]FCP and a linear rate of washout from the basal ganglia for all monkeys. There were also MO differences in time to peak uptake (similar to 25 min), in clearance half-life (t(1/2)= 140-164 min) or in D-2 binding (distribution volume ratios of 2.48 vs. 2.50). These results indicate that induction anesthetic did not differentially affect D-2 binding of [F-18]FCP in monkeys. Furthermore, the low variability between studies indicates that [F-18]FCP is an excellent ligand for longitudinal studies of D-2, receptors in monhuman primates. (C) 1999 American College of Neuropsychopharmacology. Published by Elsevier Science Inc.