In vivo evaluation of the dopaminergic neurotransmission system using [123I]FP-CIT SPECT in 6-OHDA lesioned rats

• Published in: Contrast media and molecular imaging Vol. 10; no. 1; p. 67
• Main Authors: Niñerola-Baizán, Aida, Rojas, Santiago, Bonastre, Mercè, Tudela, Raúl, Lomeña, Francisco, Pavía, Javier, Marin, Concepció, Ros, Domènec
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.01.2015
• Subjects: Animals; Corpus Striatum - diagnostic imaging; Corpus Striatum - pathology; Dopaminergic Neurons - diagnostic imaging; Dopaminergic Neurons - pathology; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Oxidopamine; Parkinson Disease - diagnostic imaging; Parkinson Disease - pathology; Radiography; Rats; Synaptic Transmission; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon; Tropanes; 6-OHDA; [123I]FP-CIT; Parkinson's disease; rat; molecular imaging; SPECT
• ISSN: 1555-4317
• DOI: 10.1002/cmmi.1608

The 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) rodent model of Parkinson's disease (PD) has been used to evaluate the nigrostriatal pathway. The aim of this work was to explore the relationship between the degree of 6-OHDA-induced dopaminergic degeneration and [(123)I]FP-CIT binding using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Fourteen rats received a 6-OHDA injection (4 or 8 µg) into the left medial forebrain bundle. After 3 weeks, magnetic resonance imaging and scans with a small-animal SPECT system were performed. Finally, the nigrostriatal lesion was assessed by immunohistochemical analysis. Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed two levels of dopaminergic degeneration. Lesions induced by 6-OHDA diminished the ipsilateral [(123)I]FP-CIT binding by 61 and 76%, respectively. The decrease in tracer uptake between control and lesioned animals was statistically significant, as was the difference between the two 6-OHDA lesioned groups. Results concluded that [(123)I]FP-CIT SPECT is a useful technique to discriminate the degree of dopaminergic degeneration in a rat model of PD.