Introduction A radioligand for measuring the density of corticotropin-releasing factor subtype-1 receptors (CRF 1 receptors) in living animal and human brain with positron emission tomography (PET) would be a useful tool for neuropsychiatric investigations and the development of drugs intended to interact with this target. This study was aimed at discovery of such a radioligand from a group of CRF 1 receptor ligands based on a core 3-(phenylamino)‐pyrazin-2(1 H )-one scaffold. Methods CRF 1 receptor ligands were selected for development as possible PET radioligands based on their binding potency at CRF 1 receptors (displacement of [ 125 I]CRF from rat cortical membranes), measured lipophilicity, autoradiographic binding profile in rat and rhesus monkey brain sections, rat biodistribution, and suitability for radiolabeling with carbon-11 or fluorine-18. Two identified candidates (BMS-721313 and BMS-732098) were labeled with fluorine-18. A third candidate (BMS-709460) was labeled with carbon-11 and all three radioligands were evaluated in PET experiments in rhesus monkey. CRF 1 receptor density ( B max ) was assessed in rhesus brain cortical and cerebellum membranes with the CRF 1 receptor ligand, [ 3 H]BMS-728300. Results The three ligands selected for development showed high binding affinity ( IC 50 values, 0.3–8 nM) at CRF 1 receptors and moderate lipophilicity ( LogD , 2.8–4.4). [ 3 H]BMS-728300 and the two 18 F-labeled ligands showed region-specific binding in rat and rhesus monkey brain autoradiography, namely higher binding density in the frontal and limbic cortex, and cerebellum than in thalamus and brainstem. CRF 1 receptor B max in rhesus brain was found to be 50–120 fmol/mg protein across cortical regions and cerebellum. PET experiments in rhesus monkey showed that the radioligands [ 18 F]BMS-721313, [ 18 F]BMS-732098 and [ 11 C]BMS-709460 gave acceptably high brain radioactivity uptake but no indication of the specific binding as seen in vitro . Conclusions Candidate CRF 1 receptor PET radioligands were identified but none proved to be effective for imaging monkey brain CRF 1 receptors. Higher affinity radioligands are likely required for successful PET imaging of CRF 1 receptors.
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