The dopamine transporter (DAT) ligand N-(3-fluoropropyl)-2β-carbomethoxy-3β-(4-fluorophenyl)nortropane (β-CFT-FP) was labeled with fluorine-18, and its biodistribution was evaluated in rats ex vivo.

The distribution of ¹⁸F radioactivity in the brain and peripheral organs and tissues was determined at several time points 5–120 min after intravenous injection of [¹⁸F]β-CFT-FP.

The highest brain uptake of [¹⁸F]β-CFT-FP was localized in the striatum; limbic structures also exhibited high uptake. Low uptake was found in the cerebellum. The highest ratio of striatum-to-cerebellum uptake, already reached within 5 min, was 3.1. Pretreatment with the selective DAT inhibitor GBR12909 significantly decreased [¹⁸F]β-CFT-FP uptake in the striatum. In most peripheral tissues, the highest uptake was found at 5 min, indicating fast washout of the radioligand. Some accumulation of ¹⁸F radioactivity was seen in bone as a function of time, reflecting defluorination of the radioligand.

The results indicate that [¹⁸F]β-CFT-FP is a potential radioligand for studying DAT in vivo with positron emission tomography.