Biodistribution and pharmacokinetics of variously molecular sized 117mSn(II)-polyethyleneiminomethyl phosphonate complexes in the normal primate model as potential selective therapeutic bone agents.

In the search for a cure for metastatic bone cancer, 117mSn with its conversion electrons and low energy photons both of discrete energies shows little bone marrow toxicity, providing the opportunity to increase the administered dose. Selective accumulation in lesions would capitalise on this advantage. The 10-30 kDa fraction of the water-soluble polymer polyethyleneimine, functionalised with methyl phosphonate groups (PEI-MP) and labelled with 99mTc, has shown selective uptake into bone tumours. Furthermore using speciation calculations it was predicted that the Sn(II)-PEI-MP complex would remain intact in the blood plasma. Because of this positive indication animal experiments were carried out to test this prediction. This paper relates the labelling, biodistribution and pharmacokinetics of various fractions of 117mSn-(II) PEI-MP in the normal primate model, and points to promising therapeutic possibilities.

Cerebral blood perfusion after treatment with zolpidem and flumazenil in the baboon.

Previous studies have shown that zolpidem (CAS 82626-48-0) can lead to improved perfusion in damaged brain tissue. Zolpidem belongs to the imidazopyridine chemical class and it illicits its pharmacological action via the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor system through stimulation of particularly the omega 1 receptors and to a lesser extent omega 2 receptors. Previously it was reported that no cerebral blood flow effects were observed in normal baboons after treatment with zolpidem, whereas an asymmetric regional increase in cerebral blood flow was observed in a neurologically abnormal baboon. In this study, the effect of a combination of the benzodiazepine receptor antagonist flumazenil (CAS 78755-81-4) and zolpidem on brain perfusion was examined by the 99mTc-hexamethyl-propylene amine oxime (99mTc-HMPAO) split dose brain single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Four normal baboons and the neurologically abnormal baboon from the previous zolpidem study were examined. In the current study the asymmetric changes observed after zolpidem--only treatment in the abnormal baboon was attenuated by flumazenil intervention. A decreased brain blood flow was observed after combination treatment of zolpidem and flumazenil in the normal baboons. The involvement of the omega receptors is suggested by these results. Up- or down-regulation of omega receptors may also contribute to the observed responses in the abnormal baboon and a brain injured patient.