What is "altanserin"

n. A compound that binds to the 5-HT_2A receptor in the brain, used as a radioligand when labelled with fluorine-18.

Altanserin is a compound that binds to the 5-HT receptor (5-Hydroxytryptamine ( serotonin) 2A receptor). Labeled with the isotope fluorine-18 it is used as a radioligand in positron emission tomography (PET) studies of the brain, i.e., studies of the 5-HT neuroreceptors. Besides human neuroimaging studies altanserin has also been used in the study of rats.

An alternative for PET imaging the 5-HT receptor is the [ C]MDL 100,907 radioligand. Fluorine-18-altanserin and tritium-MDL 100,907 have shown very comparable binding. Both altanserin and MDL 100,907 are 5-HT receptor antagonists. [F]- setoperone can also be used in PET.

An alternative SPECT radioligand is the [I]- 5-I-R91150 receptor antagonist.

A rapid chemical synthesis of fluorine-18 and H-2 dual-labeled altanserin has been described.

Other ligands for other parts of the serotonin system used in PET studies are, e.g., DASB, ketanserin and WAY-100635.