[11C]CHIBA-1001 as a novel PET ligand for alpha7 nicotinic receptors in the brain: a PET study in conscious monkeys.

Background: The alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) play an important role in the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric diseases such as schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease. However, there are currently no suitable positron emission tomography (PET) radioligands for imaging alpha7 nAChRs in the intact human brain. Here we report the novel PET radioligand [11C]CHIBA-1001 for in vivo imaging of alpha7 nAChRs in the non-human primate brain.

Phencyclidine-induced cognitive deficits in mice are improved by subsequent subchronic administration of the novel selective alpha7 nicotinic receptor agonist SSR180711.

Background: Accumulating evidence suggests that alpha7 nicotinic receptor (alpha7 nAChR) agonists could be potential therapeutic drugs for cognitive deficits in schizophrenia. The present study was undertaken to examine the effects of the novel selective alpha7 nAChR agonist SSR180711 on cognitive deficits in mice after repeated administration of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist phencyclidine (PCP).

Methods: Saline or PCP (10 mg/kg/day for 10 days) was administered to mice.