TY - JOUR T1 - <em>In Vivo</em> Imaging of Ischemia/Reperfusion-mediated Aminopeptidase N Expression in Surgical Rat Model Using <sup>68</sup>Ga-NOTA-c(NGR) JF - In Vivo JO - In Vivo SP - 657 LP - 666 DO - 10.21873/invivo.12750 VL - 36 IS - 2 AU - GERGELY FARKASINSZKY AU - NOÉMI DÉNES AU - SZILVIA RÁCZ AU - ADRIENN KIS AU - JUDIT SZABÓ PÉLINÉ AU - GÁBOR OPPOSITS AU - GERGŐ VERES AU - LÁSZLÓ BALKAY AU - ISTVÁN KERTÉSZ AU - GÁBOR MEZŐ AU - JÁNOS HUNYADI AU - GYÖRGY TRENCSÉNYI Y1 - 2022/03/01 UR - http://iv.iiarjournals.org/content/36/2/657.abstract N2 - 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. ER -