# Neuropeptide Y Y1 Receptor Imaging Agents for Positron Emission Tomography

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · 2020 · $549,437

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
 
 Basic investigations postulate that an imbalance between neurotransmitters regulating the stress
(corticotropin releasing factor, CRF, norepinephrine, orexin, vasopressin and dynorphin) and anti-stress
systems (nociceptin and neuropeptide Y, NPY) underlie negative reinforcement and relapse in addiction. NPY
is one such neuropeptide transmitter that exerts anti-stress effects in the brain. Basic investigations support a
role for increased NPY transmission in counteracting an overactive CRF system to block anxiety and stress-
induced relapse in alcoholism. The lack of PET radiotracers to measure neurotransmitters that modulate stress
is a major barrier to evaluating some of the most promising theories and novel therapeutic strategies advanced
by basic investigations in human addicts. The proposed research aims to develop and characterize a specific
radioligand that targets the NPY Y1 receptor system. The ability to non-invasively measure this receptor
subsystem in humans will lead to insights related to the role of negative reinforcement and relapse in addiction.
To date, no human studies have characterized the brain stress and anti-stress systems involved in negative
reinforcement and relapse. The development of a specific NPY Y1 receptor ligand suitable for human
research applications will be a significant step in characterizing a major component of the brain anti-stress
system in addiction. The availability of a NPY Y1 PET tracer to use in humans will also be of interest to the
study of other psychiatric and medical disorders such as anxiety, obesity, hypertension, epilepsy and certain
carcinomas in which NPY Y1 has been implicated

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9878036
- **Project number:** 5R01AA025913-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- **Principal Investigator:** NEALE S MASON
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $549,437
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-05-10 → 2023-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9878036

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9878036, Neuropeptide Y Y1 Receptor Imaging Agents for Positron Emission Tomography (5R01AA025913-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9878036. Licensed CC0.

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