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Alpha-bungarotoxin (a-BGT) has been established as a specific ligand for peripheral nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). To demonstrate the distribution of possible nAChRs in the mouse central nervous system, detailed maps of (Y-BGT binding sites were made by light microscopic autoradiography. Cryostat sections fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde were incubated with ['"IJa-BGT and were processed for autoradiographic visualization of bound radioactivity. Systematic observations of the autoradiographs revealed extensive but uneven distributions of a-BGT binding sites throughout the brain and spinal cord. The highest level of toxin binding occurred in the nucleus (nuc.) dorsalis tegmenti (von Gudden) as well as in the nuc. subthalamicus, nuc. amygdaloideus medialis posterior, nuc. centrum medianum-parafascicularis thalami, nuc. interpeduncularis pars lateralis, nuc. parabigeminalis, colliculus posterior, and nuc. dorsalis nervi vagi. The distribution patterns of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity were also mapped histochemically and were correlated to those of a-BGT binding sites. Most of the regions with significant levels of a-BGT binding also showed significant staining reaction of AChE.

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DIBrH SPECT identifies affected lungs with perfusion abnormality better than does non-BrH SPECT in pulmonary emphysema. DIBrH SPECT-CT fusion images are useful for more accurately localizing affected lungs than morphologic CT alone in this disease.

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