0000000000441252
AUTHOR
Alba Ruiz
[11C]-DASB microPET imaging in the aged rat: Frontal and meso-thalamic increases in serotonin transporter binding
Whereas molecular imaging studies in the aging human brain have predominantly demonstrated reductions in serotonin transporter (5-HTT) availability, the majority of the rodent studies, using autoradiographic methods, report increases in neural 5-HTT levels with age. To our knowledge, however, no previous rodent studies have assessed this topic in vivo, and therefore it remains unclear whether this discrepancy arises from methodological or inter-species differences. We performed an [(11)C]-DASB microPET study to evaluate the effects of aging on 5-HTT availability in the rat brain. To generate binding potential estimates, quantitative tracer kinetic modeling was applied using the simplified r…
THE EFFECTS OF AGING ON DOPAMINERGIC NEUROTRANSMISSION A microPET STUDY OF [11C]-raclopride BINDING IN THE AGED RODENT BRAIN
Rodent models are frequently used in aging re search to investigate biochemical age effects and aid in the development of therapies for pathological and non pathological age related degenerative processes In order to validate the use of animal models in aging research and pave the way for longitudinal intervention based animal studies, the consistency of cerebral aging processes across species needs to be evaluated The dopaminergic system seems particularly susceptible to the aging process, and one of the most consistent findings in human brain aging research is a decline in striatal D2-like receptor (D2R) availability, quantifiable by positron emission tomography (PET) imaging In this stud…
Lack of evidence for infectious SARS-CoV-2 in feces and sewage
Purpose: The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus is a respiratory virus whose primary route of transmission is airborne. However, it has been shown that the virus can replicate in gastrointestinal cells, can be excreted in feces, and can reach sewage systems. Although viral RNA is known to be found in patient feces and sewage, little is known about the possible fecal-oral transmission of the coronavirus. Determining the presence of infective viral particles in feces and sewage is necessary to take adequate control measures and to discover new routes of coronavirus transmission. Here, we analyzed feces and urine of COVID-19 patients and wastewater samples at the time of high prevalence in the region unde…
In vivo molecular imaging of the GABA/benzodiazepine receptor complex in the aged rat brain
The GABA-ergic system, known to regulate neural tissue genesis during cortical development, has been postulated to play a role in cerebral aging processes. Using in vivo molecular imaging and voxel-wise quantification, we aimed to assess the effects of aging on the benzodiazepine (BDZ) recognition site of the GABA A receptor. To visualize BDZ site availability, [C-11]-flumazenil microPET acquisitions were conducted in young and old rats. The data were analyzed and region of interest analyses were applied to validate the voxel-wise approach. We observed decreased [C-11]-flumazenil binding in the aged rat brains in comparison with the young control group. More specifically, clusters of reduce…