In vivo 19F nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of trifluorinated neuroleptics in the rat.

In vivo 19F NMR measurements of trifluorinated neuroleptics in the rat brain were made using a 13 x 18 mm surface coil at 4.7 T. The signal of fluphenazine was obtained within 8-15 min from brains of living rats treated chronically with drug doses of 5-30 mg/kg. Following the intravenous injection of a single dose of trifluoperazine (30 mg/kg), brain levels could be monitored with a time resolution of 30 min. The data demonstrate the possibility of obtaining in vivo pharmacokinetics of fluorinated agents in the rat brain. 19F NMR is expected to become an important tool in neurochemical research.