Tc-99m pyrophosphate imaging of poloxamer-treated electroporated skeletal muscle in an in vivo rat model.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigates whether (99m)Tc pyrophosphate (PYP) imaging provides a quantitative non-invasive assessment of the extent of electroporation injury, and of the effect of poloxamer in vivo on electroporated skeletal muscle.


METHODS
High-voltage electrical shock was used to produce electroporation injury in an anesthetized rat's hind limb. In each experiment, the injured limb was treated intravenously by either poloxamer-188, dextran, or saline, and subsequently imaged with (99m)Tc PYP. The radiotracer's temporal behavior among the experimental groups was compared using curve fitting of time-activity curves from the dynamic image data.


RESULTS
The washout kinetics of (99m)Tc PYP changed in proportion to the electric current magnitude that produced electroporation. Also, (99m)Tc PYP washout from electroporated muscle differed between poloxamer-188 treatment and saline treatment. Finally, 10-kDa dextran treatment of electroporated muscle altered (99m)Tc PYP washout less than poloxamer-188 treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Behavior of (99m)Tc PYP in electroporated muscle appears to be an indicator of the amount of electroporation injury. Compared to saline, intravenous polaxamer-188 treatment reduced the amount of (99m)Tc PYP uptake. Coupled to results showing poloxamer-188 seals ruptured cellular membranes, lessens the extent of electroporation injury and improves cell viability, (99m)Tc PYP imaging appears to be a useful in vivo monitoring tool for the extent of electroporation injury.
Matthews
Kenneth L
KL
Department of Physics and Astronomy, Louisiana State University, 202 Nicholson Hall, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA. kipmatth@lsu.edu
Aarsvold
John N
JN
Mintzer
Robert A
RA
Chen
Chin-Tu
CT
Lee
Raphael C
RC
D000818:Animals; D002058:Burns, Electric / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D018274:Electroporation; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000293:injuries; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D020442:Poloxamer / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D051381:Rats; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016698:Technetium Tc 99m Pyrophosphate
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D020442:Poloxamer; D016698:Technetium Tc 99m Pyrophosphate