¹⁹F magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy of a fluorinated neuroleptic ligand: In vivo and in vitro studies

The bulk biodistribution of a trifluorinated neuroleptic (fluphenazine) was studied using ¹⁹F magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Fifteen male Sprague-Dawley rats were injected with fluphenazine (120 mg/kg) and scanned in a G.E. CSI 2.0 tesla MRI system. The rats were killed following scanning and the brains were removed. The excised brains were then scanned using ¹H and ¹⁹F MR techniques. The fluorinated neuroleptic was imaged at the injection site, spectroscopically detected in vivo in the head, and spectroscopically localized in the whole brain. These data suggest that in vivo ¹⁹F MRI of fluorinated agents is possible and could have clinical and research applications to the neurosciences.