Effect of Triphenyl Tetrazolium Chloride Staining on the Distribution of Radiolabeled Pharmaceuticals

Myocardial tissue is routinely exposed to the vital stain triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) to delineate infarction in conjunction with myocardial isotope research. However, it is unknown whether TTC has a direct effect on tracer deposition. We evaluated this possibility in rabbit hearts injected with either teboroxime, sestamibi or 201 n. The hearts were exposed and treated as follows: (1) TTC or normal saline was perfused through the heart and the residual activity monitored; (2) hearts were sliced into 0.5-cm thick sections, counted and incubated in either TTC or normal saline for 10 min then recounted; and (3) the circumflex artery was ligated postmortem and TTC perfused