This research utilizes simultaneous PET/MR imaging to provide a preliminary analysis of the kappa-opioid receptor (KOR) system in a non-human primate (NHP) brain. We investigated the influence of a psychoactive drug challenge specific to the KOR system in a NHP using the KOR agonist Salvinorin-A. We report regionally specific uptake of a KOR agonist radiotracer ([11C]EKAP) and alterations to BOLD-derived cerebral blood volume (CBV) following the use of Salvinorin-A that are directly related to radiotracer uptake distribution. This work serves a preliminary foundation for KOR imaging and understanding KOR-agonist drug mechanisms through PET/MR.
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