The purpose of this study was to analyze ⁶⁸Ga-BAPEN dynamic PET image in rat myocardium to evaluate potential of this radiotracer as a perfusion imaging agent. Animal PET/CT scan was done in 9 rats during 120 minutes. Especially we synthesized ⁶⁸Ga-BAPEN with kit which is simple and low cost method. PET images showed the in vivo dynamic distribution of ⁶⁸Ga-BAPEN in the chest region of rats. Initially ⁶⁸Ga-BAPEN PET images showed aorta and liver activities and a few minutes later, ⁶⁸Ga-BAPEN moved to myocardium. Regions of interest were drawn on myocardium, liver, lung and blood pool. Time-activity curves showed significant uptake of ⁶⁸Ga-BAPEN in myocardium. The contrast ratios of myocardial to blood pool, lung and liver at 60 minutes after injection were 1.66, 2.82 and 0.60. To estimate accurate kinetic parameters, 60 minutes after injection was required to PET scan as myocardium image contrast ratios reached to constant values. As a result, ⁶⁸Ga-BAPEN would be suitable radiotracer for PET which can applied to diagnosis of myocardial perfusion diseases after further preclinical and clinical investigations.

Keywords⁶⁸Ga-BAPEN, Myocardium, PET, Rat