13N-oxytocin

13N-oxytocin is an investigational positron emission tomography (PET) radiopharmaceutical consisting of the nonapeptide hormone oxytocin labeled with the short-lived positron-emitting isotope nitrogen-13 (half-life of approximately 10 minutes). Developed primarily as a diagnostic tool rather than a therapeutic agent, it is used to investigate the pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of oxytocin, specifically evaluating its ability to bypass the blood-brain barrier via intranasal administration. By binding selectively to oxytocin receptors, the tracer allows researchers to visualize and quantify the direct transport of the peptide to the central nervous system (CNS) through the trigeminal and olfactory nerve pathways. This imaging is crucial for optimizing delivery strategies for therapeutic oxytocin in conditions such as chronic migraine, trigeminal neuralgia, and various neuropsychiatric disorders. The compound was developed through a collaboration between Tonix Pharmaceuticals and Aarhus University.

Other names

13N-labeled oxytocinNitrogen-13 labeled oxytocinNitrogen13 labeled oxytocinNitrogen 13 labeled oxytocin13N-OT