Anders Ettrup MSc, PhD Human Biology Scientific interests| Biography  Publications | Address

Scientific interests

My main scientific field of interest is development of novel positron emission tomography (PET) radioligands. We use pigs for validation and evaluation of novel radioligands in vivo. Of the PET radioligands development programme, I am particularly involved in two projects:

1. We are trying to synthesize and validate novel 5-HT2A agonist PET-tracers to selectively measure high-affinity and active population of 5-HT2A receptors. Furthermore, 5-HT2A agonist PET radioligands hold promise to measure release of 5-HT thus measuring endogenous 5-HT levels in the living brain.
2. We are trying to synthesize and validate novel PET radioligands for alpha-7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (a7nAChR). A7nAChR agonist are under investigation for the treatment for cognitive disturbances in Schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s Disease, yet no only few suitable a7nAChR PET radioligands are currently available, and none of them have shown significant blocking by selective ligands. In collaboration with NeuroSearch A/S, we are evaluating novel compounds as potential PET radioligands for a7nAChR imaging and receptor occupancy quantification.

My PhD project concerned the use of the pig as an animal model of CNS diseases. Pigs are neuroanatomically, neurophysiologically, and genetically more similar to humans compared to rodents, and pigs are as such a valid alternative to research using non-human primates.

In line with this, I am also involved in an attempt to establish an animal model of Alzheimer’s disease in the Göttingen Minipig using an in vivo transfer technique.

Biography

Publications

• Ettrup A, Palner M, Gillings N, Santini MA, Hansen M, Kornum BR, Rasmussen LK, Någren K, Madsen J, Begtrup M, Knudsen GM. Radiosynthesis and evaluation of 11C-CIMBI-5 as a 5-HT2A receptor agonist radioligand for PET. J Nucl Med 2010; 51:1-8
• Kornum BR, Stott SR, Mattsson B, Wisman L, Ettrup A, Hermening S, Knudsen GM, Kirik D. Adeno-associated viral vector serotypes 1 and 5 targeted to the neonatal rat and pig striatum induce widespread transgene expression in the forebrain. Exp Neurol. 2010 Mar;222(1):70-85.
• Holm P, Ettrup A, Klein AB, Santini MA, El-Sayed M, Elvang AB, Stensbøl TB, Mikkelsen JD,  Knudsen GM, Aznar S. Plaque deposition dependent decrease in 5-HT_2A serotonin receptor in APP**swe/PS1dE9 amyloid overexpressing mice. J Alzheimers Dis 2010;1;20(4):1201-13
• Ettrup A, Kornum B, Weikop P, Knudsen GM. An approach for serotonin depletion in pigs: Effects on serotonin receptor binding. Synapse 2010 Jun 16. [Epub ahead of print]
• Klein AB, Williamson R, Santini MA, Clemmensen C, Ettrup A, Rios M, Knudsen GM, Aznar S. Blood BDNF concentrations reflect brain tissue BDNF levels across species. The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology. 2010 Jul 7:1-7. [Epub ahead of print]

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