@article {FARKASINSZKY657, author = {GERGELY FARKASINSZKY and NO{\'E}MI D{\'E}NES and SZILVIA R{\'A}CZ and ADRIENN KIS and JUDIT SZAB{\'O} P{\'E}LIN{\'E} and G{\'A}BOR OPPOSITS and GERG{\H O} VERES and L{\'A}SZL{\'O} BALKAY and ISTV{\'A}N KERT{\'E}SZ and G{\'A}BOR MEZ{\H O} and J{\'A}NOS HUNYADI and GY{\"O}RGY TRENCS{\'E}NYI}, title = {In Vivo Imaging of Ischemia/Reperfusion-mediated Aminopeptidase N Expression in Surgical Rat Model Using 68Ga-NOTA-c(NGR)}, volume = {36}, number = {2}, pages = {657--666}, year = {2022}, doi = {10.21873/invivo.12750}, publisher = {International Institute of Anticancer Research}, abstract = {Background/Aim: Previous studies have already shown that 68Gallium(68Ga)-labeled NGR-based radiopharmaceuticals specifically bind to the neoangiogenic molecule Aminopeptidase N (APN/CD13). The aim of this study was to evaluate the applicability of 68Ga-NOTA-c(NGR) in the in vivo detection of the temporal changes of APN/CD13 expression in the diabetic retinopathy rat model using positron emission tomography (PET). Materials and Methods: Ischemia/reperfusion injury was initiated by surgical ligation of the left bulbus oculi of rats. In vivo PET imaging studies were performed after the surgery using 68Ga-NOTA-c(NGR). Results: Significantly higher 68Ga-NOTA-c(NGR) uptake was observed in the surgically-ligated left bulbus, compared to the bulbus of the non-surgical group at each investigated time point. The western blot and histological analysis confirmed the increased expression of the neo-angiogenic marker APN/CD13. Conclusion: 68Ga-NOTA-c(NGR) is a suitable radiotracer for the detection of the temporal changes of the ischemia/reperfusion-mediated expression of APN/CD13 in the surgically induced diabetic retinopathy rat model.}, issn = {0258-851X}, URL = {https://iv.iiarjournals.org/content/36/2/657}, eprint = {https://iv.iiarjournals.org/content/36/2/657.full.pdf}, journal = {In Vivo} }