Neuroreceptor quantification in vivo by the steady state principle and [123I]iomazenil in rats

A steady state method for neuroreceptor quantification in vivo in small laboratory animals is described, using [123I]iomazenil as tracer for the benzodiazepine receptor. The method was used for determination of the receptor equilibrium constant for a non-radioactive ligand, flumazenil, in rats and involved measurement of the nonspecific binding of [123I]iomazenil. Thirty-five animals were intravenously infused for 2 h with [123I]iomazenil and flumazenil in different proportions to obtain occupancies of the benzodiazepine receptor from close to 0 to about 99%. The nonspecific binding of iomazenil in brain tissue was calculated by an iterative procedure from the data for the highly blocked animals, and it was found to be 1.04 ml per ml plasma (n = 6). The mean cortical Kd of flumazenil was 21 +/- 11 nM (n = 19). The method is discussed with special reference to the problems of ascertaining steady state and nonspecific binding.