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Background Myocardial perfusion imaging by positron emission tomography (PET-MPI) is the current gold standard for quantification of myocardial blood flow. F-18-flurpiridaz was recently introduced as a valid alternative to currently used PET-MPI probes. Nonetheless, optimum scan duration and time interval for image analysis are currently unknown. Further, it is unclear whether rest/stress PET-MPI with F-18-flurpiridaz is feasible in mice. Methods Rest/stress PET-MPI was performed with F-18-flurpiridaz (0.6-3.0 MBq) in 27 mice aged 7-8 months. Regadenoson (0.1 mu g/g) was used for induction of vasodilator stress. Kinetic modeling was performed using a metabolite-corrected arterial input function. Image-derived myocardial F-18-flurpiridaz uptake was assessed for different time intervals by placing a volume of interest in the left ventricular myocardium. Results Tracer kinetics were best described by a two-tissue compartment model. K-1 ranged from 6.7 to 20.0 mL center dot cm(-3)center dot min(-1), while myocardial volumes of distribution (V-T) were between 34.6 and 83.6 mL center dot cm(-3). Of note, myocardial F-18-flurpiridaz uptake (%ID/g) was significantly correlated with K-1 at rest and following pharmacological vasodilation for all time intervals assessed. However, while Spearman's coefficients (r(s)) ranged between 0.478 and 0.681, R-2 values were generally low. In contrast, an excellent correlation of myocardial F-18-flurpiridaz uptake with V-T was obtained, particularly when employing the averaged myocardial uptake from 20 to 40 min post tracer injection (R-2 >= 0.98). Notably, K-1 and V-T were similarly sensitive to pharmacological vasodilation induction. Further, mean stress-to-rest ratios of K-1, V-T, and %ID/g F-18-flurpiridaz were virtually identical, suggesting that %ID/g F-18-flurpiridaz can be used to estimate coronary flow reserve (CFR) in mice. Conclusion Our findings suggest that a simplified assessment of relative myocardial perfusion and CFR, based on image-derived tracer uptake, is feasible with F-18-flurpiridaz in mice, enabling high-throughput mechanistic CFR studies in rodents., Journal of Nuclear Cardiology, 30 (1), ISSN:1071-3581, ISSN:1532-6551

Myocardial perfusion imaging by positron emission tomography (PET-MPI) is the current gold standard for quantification of myocardial blood flow.Rest/stress PET-MPI was performed withTracer kinetics were best described by a two-tissue compartment model. KOur findings suggest that a simplified assessment of relative myocardial perfusion and CFR, based on image-derived tracer uptake, is feasible with