In vitro uptake and metabolism of [14C]acetate in rabbit atherosclerotic arteries: biological basis for atherosclerosis imaging with [11C]acetate

Abstract Introduction Detection of vulnerable plaques is critically important for the selection of appropriate treatment and/or the prevention of atherosclerosis and ensuing cardiovascular diseases. In order to clarify the utility of [ 11 C]acetate for atherosclerosis imaging, we determined the uptake and metabolism of acetate by in vitro studies using rabbit atherosclerotic arteries and [ 14 C]acetate. Methods Rabbits were fed with a conventional (n=5) or a 0.5% cholesterol diet (n=6). One side of the iliac–femoral arteries was injured by a balloon catheter. Radioactivity levels in the iliac–femoral arteries were measured after incubation in DMEM containing [1- 14 C]acetate for 60 min (% dpm/mg tissue). Radioactive components in the homogenized arteries were partitioned into aqueous, organic, and residue fractions by the Folch method, and analyzed by thin-layer chromatography (TLC). Results The radioactivity level in the injured arteries of rabbits fed with the 0.5% cholesterol diet (atherosclerotic arteries) was significantly higher than that in either the non-injured or injured arteries of rabbits fed with the conventional diet ( p Conclusions The level of [ 14 C]acetate-derived radioactivity into the arteries was increased by balloon injury and the burden of a cholesterol diet. Water-soluble metabolites were the dominant components with radioactivity in the atherosclerotic lesions. These results provide a biological basis for imaging atherosclerotic lesions by PET using [ 11 C]acetate.