Abstract[ 11 C]MePPEP is an inverse agonist and a radioligand developed to image cannabinoid CB 1 receptors with positron emission tomography (PET). It provides reversible, high specific signal in monkey brain. We assessed [ 11 C]MePPEP in rodent brain with regard to receptor selectivity, susceptibility to transport by P-glycoprotein (P-gp), sensitivity to displacement by agonists, and accumulation of radiometabolites. We used CB 1 receptor knockout mice and P-gp knockout mice to assess receptor selectivity and sensitivity to efflux transport, respectively. Using serial measurements of PET brain activity and plasma concentrations of [ 11 C]MePPEP, we estimated CB 1 receptor density in rat brain as distribution volume. CB 1 knockout mice showed only nonspecific brain uptake, and [ 11 C]MePPEP was not a substrate for P-gp. Direct acting agonists anandamide (10 mg/kg), methanandamide (10 mg/kg), CP 55,940 (1 mg/kg), and indirect agonist URB597 (0.3 and 0.6 mg/kg) failed to displace [ 11 C]MePPEP, while the inverse agonist rimonabant (3 and 10 mg/kg) displaced >65% of [ 11 C] MePPEP. Radiometabolites represented ∼13% of total radioactivity in brain between 30 and 120 min. [ 11 C]MePPEP was selective for the CB 1 receptor, was not a substrate for P-gp, and was more potently displaced by inverse agonists than agonists. The low potency of agonists suggests either a large receptor reserve or non-overlapping binding sites for agonists and inverse agonists. Radiometabolites of [ 11 C]MePPEP in brain caused distribution volume to be overestimated by ∼13%.