In vivo non-invasive serial monitoring of FDG-PET progression and regression in a rabbit model of atherosclerosis.
We investigated the ability of fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG PET) imaging to serially monitor macrophage content in a rabbit model of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis was induced in rabbits (n = 8) by a combination of atherogenic diet and balloon denudation of the aorta. At the end of nine months, the rabbits were randomized to a further six months of the same atherogenic diet (progression group) or normal diet (regression group). In vivo uptake of FDG by the thoracic aorta was measured using aortic uptake-to-blood radioactivity ratios at the start and end of the randomized period. A significant increase in FDG uptake of the progression group after continued cholesterol feeding (aortic uptake-to-blood radioactivity: 0.57 +/- 0.02 to 0.68 +/- 0.02, P = 0.001), and a corresponding fall in FDG uptake of the regression group after returning to a normal chow diet (aortic uptake-to-blood radioactivity ratios: 0.67 +/- 0.02 to 0.53 +/- 0.02, P < 0.0001). FDG PET can quantify in vivo macrophage content and serially monitor changes in FDG activity in this rabbit model.
Worthley
Stephen G
SG
Zena and Michael A. Wiener Cardiovascular Institute, The Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY 10029, USA. stephen.worthley@adelaide.edu.au
Zhang
Zhuang Y
ZY
Machac
Josef
J
Helft
Gérard
G
Tang
Cheuk
C
Liew
Gary Y H
GY
Zaman
Azfar G
AG
Worthley
Matthew I
MI
Fayad
Zahi A
ZA
Buchsbaum
Monte S
MS
Fuster
Valentin
V
Badimon
Juan J
JJ
D000818:Animals; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D004036:Diet, Atherogenic; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018450:Disease Progression; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D011817:Rabbits; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D011897:Random Allocation
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18