In VivoPET Imaging of the α4β2 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor As a Marker for Brain Inflammation after Cerebral Ischemia

• DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.3670-14.2015
• Publication Date: 2015-04-15T16:37:33Z
• Authors: Abraham Martín; Boguslaw Szczupak; Vanessa Gómez-Val...; Maria Domercq; Ainhoa Cano; Daniel Padro; Clara Muñoz; Makoto Higuchi; Carlos Matute; Jordi Llop
• Keywords: Translocator protein; Stroke; Brain ischemia

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