Post-mortem human brain autoradiography of the norepinephrine transporter using (S,S)-[18F]FMeNER-D2

The binding of the norepinephrine transporter radioligand, (S,S)-[18F]FMeNER-D2, to human brain post-mortem was examined in vitro by whole hemisphere autoradiography. The rank order for the density of labelling was: locus coeruleus ≫ cortex ≈ cerebellum ≈ thalamus > caudate ≈ putamen. The NET-selectivity of binding was confirmed by co-incubation with desipramine. The dual NET/SERT inhibitor duloxetine also inhibited specific binding, whereas PE2I or citalopram had no evident effect.