Introduction
Assessing myocardial perfusion using 82Rb-PET is emerging as a valuable clinical tool.1,2 The rapid decay (T ½ = 76 s) allows for absolute quantification of both rest and stress perfusion within 30 minutes. In addition to evaluation of epicardial disease with perfusion defects, also evaluation of balanced coronary and small vessel disease is possible. For further evaluation of how 82Rb-PET can be used clinically, pre-clinical application of the method would be valuable. However, so far no data on the use of 82Rb-PET in small animals have been published nor has the use of 82Rb-PET, to the best of our knowledge, been successfully tried. Therefore, we wanted to develop and test the applicability of the method in rats, despite the high positron range of 82Rb. To do so, we adapted the clinical method and tested it in rats with experimentally induced myocardial infarction.
Case Summary
A male Sprague-Dawley rat underwent 82Rb-PET/CT as described in Figure 1; after the baseline scan, the animal was subjected to myocardial infarction; a thoracotomy was performed, and LAD was ligated proximally. After closure, the animal recovered under anesthesia for 45 minutes, before being scanned again following the same protocol.
Figure 2 shows the perfusion images, demonstrating clear uptake in the myocardium. On the post-infarction images, the perfusion defect is identified. The anterolateral location of the myocardial infarct was similar to that seen in humans when the culprit lesion is in the LAD. This despite anatomical differences between rats and humans.3 The myocardial infarct was subsequently confirmed by ex vivo autoradiography.
Despite the challenge of high energy of the positron emitted by 82Rb, the infarcted area could be identified on the in vivo images.
Conclusion
For the first time, feasibility of 82Rb-PET in small animal cardiac imaging has been demonstrated. The method could delineate an infarcted area of a rat heart in vivo. These encouraging data stimulate for further development of the method.
References
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