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EJNMMI Research
Published in: EJNMMI Research 1/2020

01-12-2020 | Positron Emission Tomography | Short communication

[18F]MPPF and [18F]FDG μPET imaging in rats: impact of transport and restraint stress

Authors: Verena Buchecker, Ann-Marie Waldron, R. Maarten van Dijk, Ines Koska, Matthias Brendel, Barbara von Ungern-Sternberg, Simon Lindner, Franz Josef Gildehaus, Sibylle Ziegler, Peter Bartenstein, Heidrun Potschka

Published in: EJNMMI Research | Issue 1/2020

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Abstract

Background

Stress exposure can significantly affect serotonergic signaling with a particular impact on 5-HT1A receptor expression. Positron emission tomography (PET) provides opportunities for molecular imaging of alterations in 5-HT1A receptor binding following stress exposure. Considering the possible role of 5-HT1A receptors in stress coping mechanisms, respective imaging approaches are of particular interest.

Material and methods

For twelve consecutive days, Sprague Dawley rats were exposed to daily transport with a 1 h stay in a laboratory or daily transport plus 1 h restraint in a narrow tube. Following, animals were subjected to μPET imaging with 2′-methoxyphenyl-(N-2′-pyridinyl)-p-[18F]fluoro-benzamidoethylpiperazine ([18F]MPPF) and 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose ([18F]FDG). Behavioral and biochemical parameters were analyzed to obtain additional information.

Results

In rats with repeated transport, hippocampal [18F]MPPF binding exceeded that in the naive group, while no difference in [18F]FDG uptake was detected between the groups. A transient decline in body weight was observed in rats with transport or combined transport and restraint. Thereby, body weight development correlated with [18F]MPPF binding.

Conclusions

Mild-to-moderate stress associated with daily transport and exposure to a laboratory environment can trigger significant alterations in hippocampal binding of the 5-HT1A receptor ligand [18F]MPPF. This finding indicates that utmost care is necessary to control and report transport and associated handling procedures for animals used in μPET studies analyzing the serotonergic system in order to enhance the robustness of conclusions and allow replicability of findings. In view of earlier studies indicating that an increase in hippocampal 5-HT1A receptor expression may be associated with a resilience to stress, it would be of interest to further evaluate 5-HT1A receptor imaging approaches as a candidate biomarker for the vulnerability to stress.
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Metadata
Title
[18F]MPPF and [18F]FDG μPET imaging in rats: impact of transport and restraint stress
Authors
Verena Buchecker
Ann-Marie Waldron
R. Maarten van Dijk
Ines Koska
Matthias Brendel
Barbara von Ungern-Sternberg
Simon Lindner
Franz Josef Gildehaus
Sibylle Ziegler
Peter Bartenstein
Heidrun Potschka
Publication date
01-12-2020
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
EJNMMI Research / Issue 1/2020
Electronic ISSN: 2191-219X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13550-020-00693-3

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