Cocaine analogue, CFT (2beta-carbomethoxy-3beta-(4-fluorophenyl) tropane) binding to dopamine transporter (DAT) in different species is quite heterogeneous. CFT is scarcely detected in bovine DAT whereas it is conspicuous in humans. To examine the structural basis for this functional discrepancy, we analyzed transporter chimeras of these two DATs. The CFT binding activities are avid in all of the chimeric DATs of which both of the 3rd and the 6-8th transmembrane domain (TM) are composed of human DAT sequences. On the contrary, CFT binding activities were scarcely detected if either or both of two regions are replaced with bovine sequences. These findings indicate that the CFT binding absolutely requires human DAT sequences, at least, in the regions encompassing the 3rd and 6-8th transmembrane domain (TM), and that these regions might contribute to form the 3-dimensional pocket for CFT binding.
Animal ; Cattle ; Chimeric Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Cocaine/*analogs & derivatives/*metabolism ; Human ; Membrane Transport Proteins/*genetics/*metabolism ; Protein Binding ; Protein Structure, Tertiary

A sensitive LC-MS/MS method to determine cocaine and its major metabolite benzoylecgonine in guinea pig' s hair has been established. About 20 mg of decontaminated hair sample was hydrolyzed with 0. 1 mol x L(-1) HCl at 50 degrees C overnight, in the presence of cocaine-d3 and benzoylecgonine-d8 used as internal standards, and then extracted with dichlormethane. The analysis was performed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Positive electrospray ionization (ESI +) and multiple reactions monitoring (MRM) mode were used. The limit of detection (LOD) for cocaine and benzoylecgonine was 1 pg x mg(-1). The calibration curves of extracted standards were linear over the range from 5 pg x mg(-1) to 250 pg x mg(-1) (r2 > or = 0.9997). The method was validated and applied to the analysis of guinea pig's hair after a single dose administration of cocaine hydrochloride. Cocaine and benzoylecgonine were not only detected, but also quantified in guinea pigs hair.
Animals ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Cocaine ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; analysis ; metabolism ; Guinea Pigs ; Hair ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

beta-CIT was labeled with 131I by the peracetic acid method. Cat model of Parkinsonism was set up with MPTP. Each of normal and PD model cats was given an injection of 74 MBq/0.5 ml 131I-beta-CIT into the femur vein. Then the blood samples were obtained at 4 h and 20 h, the radioactivity was counted with calibrator. The biodistribution data of 131I-beta-CIT in cat body was calculated (ID%/g). The cats were subjected to imaging at 0.5 h, 1 h, 2 h, 4 h, 20 h after the administration of radiopharmaceutical. The radioactivity in striatum and cerebellum was measured and striatal specific binding ratios were calculated. The Results showed that the radio chemical purity of 131I-beta-CIT was 97.62% +/- 0.31%. The 131I-beta-CIT remained stable for at least 4 h after incubation with water and serum respectively. Following intravenous administration in cats, 131I-beta-CIT showed high accumulation in striatum. The study of imaging in cats showed that striatal specific uptake of 131I-beta-CIT at 20 h after injection was 4.83 +/- 0.82 in normal cats and 2.92 +/- 0.66 in PD cats. There was a significant reduction of striatal tracer uptake in PD cats, compared to the controls. The results of biodistribution study was in agreement with the results of imaging study. These results suggest that beta-CIT is an ideal agent for dopamine transporter imaging and can be used for the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease.
Animals ; Brain ; metabolism ; Cats ; Cocaine ; analogs & derivatives ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins ; Female ; Male ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; metabolism ; Membrane Transport Proteins ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; metabolism ; Parkinson Disease ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon