RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Pharmacokinetics and Amyloid Plaque Targeting Ability of a Novel Peptide-Based Magnetic Resonance Contrast Agent in Wild-Type and Alzheimer's Disease Transgenic Mice JF Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics JO J Pharmacol Exp Ther FD American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics SP 541 OP 549 DO 10.1124/jpet.107.119883 VO 322 IS 2 A1 Karunya K. Kandimalla A1 Thomas M. Wengenack A1 Geoffry L. Curran A1 Emily J. Gilles A1 Joseph F. Poduslo YR 2007 UL http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/322/2/541.abstract AB A novel magnetic resonance (MR) imaging contrast agent based on a derivative of human amyloid β (Aβ) peptide, Gd[N-4ab/Q-4ab]Aβ 30, was previously shown to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and bind to amyloid plaques in Alzheimer's disease (AD) transgenic mouse (APP/PS1) brain. We now report extensive plasma and brain pharmacokinetics of this contrast agent in wild-type (WT) and in APP/PS1 mice along with a quantitative summary of various physiological factors that govern its efficacy. Upon i.v. bolus administration, 125I-Gd[N-4ab/Q-4ab]Aβ 30 was rapidly eliminated from the plasma following a three-exponential disposition, which is saturable at higher concentrations. Nevertheless, the contrast agent exhibited rapid and nonsaturable absorption at the BBB. The brain pharmacokinetic profile of 125I-Gd[N-4ab/Q-4ab]Aβ 30 showed a rapid absorption phase followed by a slower elimination phase. No significant differences were observed in the plasma or brain kinetics of WT and APP/PS1 animals. Emulsion autoradiography studies conducted on WT and APP/PS1 mouse brain after an i.v. bolus administration of 125I-Gd[N-4ab/Q-4ab]Aβ 30 in vivo confirmed the brain pharmacokinetic data and also demonstrated the preferential localization of the contrast agent on the plaques for an extended period of time. These attributes of the contrast agent are extremely useful in providing an excellent signal/noise ratio during longer MR scans, which may be essential for obtaining a high resolution image. In conclusion, this study documents the successful plaque targeting of Gd[N-4ab/Q-4ab]Aβ 30 and provides crucial pharmacokinetic information to determine the dose, mode of administration, and scan times for future in vivo MR imaging of amyloid plaques in AD transgenic mice. The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics