BETA-METHYL[1-C-11]HEPTADECANOIC ACID - A NEW MYOCARDIAL METABOLIC TRACER FOR POSITRON EMISSION TOMOGRAPHY

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 23  (2) , 169-175
Abstract
Heptadecanoic acid tagged with 11C at the carboxyl group with a methyl radical in the .beta. position to inhibit .beta. oxidation of the fatty acid was explored for its potential as an indicator of myocardial metabolism for use with the positron tomograph. Biodistribution studies were made in rats and dogs, and imaging of normal and infarcted dogs was performed. At 30 min the tissue distribution studies in rats and dogs showed, respectively, 1.9 and 8.3% uptake in heart. Sequential images of the canine heart exhibited a remarkable uptake, peaking at 16-18 min and retaining the same level of activity over the 1-h study period. Images of the heart after LAD [left anterior descending coronary artery] ligation showed an area of diminished uptake corresponding to the region of infarction. This agent has the basic properties required for potential use in the assessment and quantitation of free fatty-acid metabolism in the heart in a manner similar to the measurement of glucose metabolism in the brain with 2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose.