RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Changes of brain phosphodiesterase type IV measured with 11C-(R)-rolipram PET in major depressive disorder JF Journal of Nuclear Medicine JO J Nucl Med FD Society of Nuclear Medicine SP 201 OP 201 VO 53 IS supplement 1 A1 Fujita, Masahiro A1 Hines, Christina A1 Zoghbi, Sami A1 Mallinger, Alan A1 Liow, Jeih-San A1 Zhang, Yi A1 Pike, Victor A1 Drevets, Wayne A1 Innis, Robert A1 Zarate, Carlos YR 2012 UL http://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/53/supplement_1/201.abstract AB 201 Objectives Phosphodiesterase type 4 (PDE4) selectively metabolizes cAMP in the brain. Basic studies have indicated that PDE4 and the cAMP cascade are downregulated in major depressive disorder (MDD) and that cAMP cascade mediates the effects of several antidepressants. The objectives of this study were to compare the binding of 11C-(R)-rolipram, a PDE4 inhibitor, between unmedicated MDD patients and healthy controls and also to compare rolipram binding in MDD before and after selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) therapy. Methods 11 C-(R)-Rolipram PET scans were performed in 28 unmedicated patients and 25 healthy controls. Thirteen patients repeated a scan 4 - 8 weeks after SSRI treatment. Six controls had two scans to study reproducibility. Total distribution volume normalized to plasma free fraction, VT/fP, was measured in 10 regions throughout the brain using unconstrained two-comp. model. To study the involvement of P-gp, brain uptake of 11C-(R)-rolipram was compared between wild type and P-gp KO mice. Results Unmedicated patients showed lower VT/fP than controls in all regions with an average decrease of 22% (w/o partial volume correction (PVC): p=0.002, with PVC: p=0.007). Although six healthy subjects showed similar VT/fP in two scans with a difference of -7.7±9.2% ((2nd - 1st scan)/1st scan), 13 patients showed markedly larger variability of +15±37%. There was no correlation between baseline depression or anxiety ratings or the changes after SSRI and either baseline VT/fP or its changes after SSRI. The mouse scans indicated that (R)-rolipram is not a substrate of P-gp. Conclusions Significantly lower rolipram binding in unmedicated depressives is in line with the downregulation of the cAMP cascade indicating that stimulation of the cAMP cascade may induce antidepressant effects. The large variability of rolipram binding between the two scans in the patients may indicate instability of the cAMP cascade. Research Support NIM