Lode R Goethals, Caroline D Weytjens, Frank De Geeter, Steven Droogmans, Vicky Caveliers, Marleen Keyaerts, Chris Vanhove, Guy Van Camp, Axel Bossuyt, Tony Lahoutte
BACKGROUND: In several disease models it is known that heterogeneous dysinnervation occurs in the sympathetic nervous system. We therefore adapted the (123)I-MIBG imaging procedure in small animals to allow quantification of both global and regional uptake and wash-out rate using high specific activity (123)I-MIBG in the myocardium of rats. After evaluation of the image procedure in normal animals, we then applied our imaging protocol to visualize the regional dysinnervation in cardiac autonomic neuropathy occurring in streptozotocin-induced diabetes...
July 2009: Contrast Media & Molecular Imaging