title: Effect of iron deficiency on the biodistribution and tumor uptake of Ga-67 citrate in animals: concise communication.
abstract: To investigate the effect of iron deficiency on the biodistribution and tumor uptake of Ga-67 citrate, 20 weanling Sprague-Dawley rats were maintained for 6-8 wk on a low-iron diet. Eighteen littermates were maintained on a normal iron diet and served as controls. Animals received 10 microCi Ga-67 citrate, and urine and feces were collected for 48 hr. The animals were then killed, tissue samples were obtained, and serum iron and unsaturated iron-binding capacity (UIBC) were measured. The accumulation of Ga-67 in the liver and spleen (% ID/g) was markedly increased in iron-deficient animals and urinary excretion was reduced. Tumor uptake was not significantly different in iron-deficient and control animals, but tumor-to-blood ratios were elevated (p < .001) in the iron-deficient animals because of low blood levels of Ga-67. The liver and spleen accumulation of Ga-67 correlated significantly (p < .001) with the UIBC. The results show that iron deficiency alters the distribution of Ga-67 citrate, and suggest that the variable liver-spleen uptake seen in clinical Ga-67 images may be explained, in part, by changes in serum iron and UIBC.
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Dept., Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, National Naval Medical Ctr., Bethesda, MD 20014, USA.
authors.forename: W P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Bradley
authors.forename: P O
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Alderson
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Weiss
mesh_terms: D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000378:metabolism*; D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport; D002279:Carcinoma 256, Walker / Q000378:metabolism*; D002951:Citrates / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D005708:Gallium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D002951:Citrates; D005708:Gallium; C103850:gallium citrate