Tc-99m-labeled endothelin derivative for imaging of experimentally induced atherosclerosis.
OBJECTIVE
to characterize the potential of an endothelin derivative labeled with technetium-99m (Tc-99m) for the imaging of experimentally induced atherosclerosis.


METHODS
neointima of different cellularity and severity of stenosis was induced in 32 rabbits by balloon denudation followed by distinct dietary regimens and drug application. Angiograms and scintigrams after injection of the Tc-99m-labeled endothelin derivative were obtained. The aorta was dissected for autoradiography, sudan-III-staining, morphometry, and immunohistology.


RESULTS
the lesions induced could be detected in vivo (whole body scintigram) in all the animals 15 min after the injection of the Tc-99m endothelin derivative. Autoradiography revealed a strong relationship between tracer accumulation and sudan-III-staining of lesions. Accumulation of the endothelin derivative correlated with the number of neointimal smooth muscle cells (SMC), but not with the number of medial SMC, neointimal macrophages, and neointimal area.


CONCLUSIONS
the results indicate that in vivo imaging of atherosclerosis with an endothelin derivative is a feasible method of detecting and characterizing atherosclerotic arterial wall lesions at early stages.
Tepe
G
G
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University of Tübingen Hoppe-Seyler-Str. 3, 72076 Tübingen, Germany. gunnar.tepe@med.uni-tuebingen.de
Duda
S H
SH
Meding
J
J
Brehme
U
U
Ritter
J
J
Hanke
H
H
Hilger
C S
CS
Claussen
C D
CD
Dinkelborg
L M
LM
D000792:Angiography; D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001345:Autoradiography; D001391:Azo Compounds; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004396:Coloring Agents; D016232:Endothelins; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000473:pathology; D011817:Rabbits; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D017466:Receptors, Endothelin / Q000378:metabolism; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013667:Technetium; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology
D001391:Azo Compounds; D004396:Coloring Agents; D016232:Endothelins; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D017466:Receptors, Endothelin; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein; D013667:Technetium; D002784:Cholesterol; C033006:sudan III