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MicroCT Liver Contrast Agent Enhancement Over Time, Dose, and Mouse Strain

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Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to examine strain differences in the uptake of Fenestra liver contrast agent (LC) in Nude, C57, and severe-combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice. In addition, we aimed to determine optimum dosing and to determine if there are positron emission tomography (PET)-attenuation effects on 2-deoxy-2[F-18]fluoro-d-glucose (FDG) values due to Fenestra LC.

Procedures

Nude, C57, and SCID mice were injected via tail vein at 5.0, 7.5, 10.0, and 15.0 ml/kg with contrast agent and imaged using micro computed tomography (microCT) 2 h after uptake and then daily up to 7 days. Mice were imaged by microPET/CT with FDG, with or without contrast agent.

Results

Significant variations in contrast were observed between mouse strains. SCID mice had significantly more spleen uptake of contrast than the other strains, and C57 mice had significantly more liver uptake of contrast than other strains. Across all strains, the spleen showed significantly higher uptake and duration of contrast than liver. Only the heart showed a significant attenuation of FDG uptake following contrast administration.

Conclusions

Strain-specific variations in Fenestra LC uptake and signal duration were observed. At 7.5 ml/kg, this contrast agent is effective for imaging for 1 day, whereas at 15 ml/kg, it can be used up to 1 week. Fenestra LC does not appear to attenuate FDG uptake at 15 ml/kg for most tissues; therefore, it can be used in conjunction with microPET imaging studies.

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Acknowledgments

We wish to acknowledge Richard Taschereau, Waldemar Ladno, Judy Edwards, Antonia Lu at UCLA Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging, and Michael Kriessl, Nuclear Medicine Clinic, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany, for their technical assistances. We would also like to thank Dr. Marcelo Couto and the Department of Laboratory Animal Medicine for support. This work was partly supported by DOE cooperative agreement DE-FC03-02ER63420, by NIH grant RO1-EB001943 and R24 CA 92865.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Laboratory Animal Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Chris E. Suckow

  2. Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    David B. Stout

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  1. Chris E. Suckow
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  2. David B. Stout
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Correspondence to David B. Stout.

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Suckow, C.E., Stout, D.B. MicroCT Liver Contrast Agent Enhancement Over Time, Dose, and Mouse Strain. Mol Imaging Biol 10, 114–120 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11307-007-0128-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11307-007-0128-x

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