HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Related articles in JNM Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Tatsumi, M. Articles by Wahl, R. L. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Tatsumi, M. Articles by Wahl, R. L.

Intense ¹⁸F-FDG Uptake in Brown Fat Can Be Reduced Pharmacologically

Division of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland

Physiologic ¹⁸F-FDG uptake in areas of supraclavicular fat in humans ("USA-Fat") has recently been recognized as ¹⁸F-FDG uptake in apparent brown adipose tissue (BAT) using fused PET/CT technology. In this study, we evaluated ¹⁸F-FDG uptake in BAT of rats to determine whether pharmacologic or physiologic interventions affect the uptake, knowing that BAT has a high density of adrenergic innervation. Methods: Seven- to 8-wk-old female Lewis rats receiving intravenous ¹⁸F-FDG injections were examined under various conditions to evaluate ¹⁸F-FDG biodistribution into interscapular BAT and major organs. In series 1, rats were given ketamine-based anesthesia or were exposed to cold (4°C for 4 h) to determine whether these interventions increased ¹⁸F-FDG uptake in BAT. In series 2, anesthetized rats (ketamine-based anesthesia) were given propranolol, reserpine, or diazepam intraperitoneally before ¹⁸F-FDG injection to determine whether the drug reduced ¹⁸F-FDG uptake in BAT. The control and treated groups in series 2 were also evaluated with ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT imaging. Results: In series 1, anesthesia or exposure to cold increased ¹⁸F-FDG uptake in BAT to levels 14-fold and 4.9-fold, respectively, greater than the control nonstimulated values. BAT uptake was high, comparable to that in the brain. In series 2, ¹⁸F-FDG uptake in BAT was significantly decreased to less than 30% of the control level after propranolol or reserpine (P < 0.05). Diazepam did not significantly decrease ¹⁸F-FDG uptake in BAT. ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT findings reflected these biodistribution data: The control and diazepam groups exhibited intense ¹⁸F-FDG uptake in BAT, whereas the propranolol and reserpine groups showed only faint to mild ¹⁸F-FDG uptake in BAT. Among several organs whose ¹⁸F-FDG uptake was affected after predosing drugs, the heart exhibited considerable decreases in tracer uptake with propranolol or reserpine. Conclusion: This rodent study demonstrated that BAT can exhibit high ¹⁸F-FDG uptake under stimulated conditions including exposure to cold and that propranolol or reserpine treatment can remarkably reduce the high ¹⁸F-FDG uptake in BAT. The effect of these drugs on ¹⁸F-FDG uptake in human BAT, as well as on tracer accumulation in other organs, should carefully be evaluated clinically to minimize the USA-Fat artifact.

Key Words: brown fat • ¹⁸F-FDG • rat • PET/CT

Related articles in JNM:

This Month in JNM

JNM 2004 45: 13A-14A. [Full Text]  

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. M. Cypess, S. Lehman, G. Williams, I. Tal, D. Rodman, A. B. Goldfine, F. C. Kuo, E. L. Palmer, Y.-H. Tseng, A. Doria, et al. Identification and Importance of Brown Adipose Tissue in Adult Humans N. Engl. J. Med., April 9, 2009; 360(15): 1509 - 1517. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. S. Celi Brown Adipose Tissue -- When It Pays to Be Inefficient N. Engl. J. Med., April 9, 2009; 360(15): 1553 - 1556. [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Seale, S. Kajimura, and B. M. Spiegelman Transcriptional control of brown adipocyte development and physiological function--of mice and men Genes & Dev., April 1, 2009; 23(7): 788 - 797. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Williams and G. M. Kolodny Method for Decreasing Uptake of 18F-FDG by Hypermetabolic Brown Adipose Tissue on PET Am. J. Roentgenol., May 1, 2008; 190(5): 1406 - 1409. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Baba, J. M. Engles, D. L. Huso, T. Ishimori, and R. L. Wahl Comparison of Uptake of Multiple Clinical Radiotracers into Brown Adipose Tissue Under Cold-Stimulated and Nonstimulated Conditions J. Nucl. Med., October 1, 2007; 48(10): 1715 - 1723. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Nedergaard, T. Bengtsson, and B. Cannon Unexpected evidence for active brown adipose tissue in adult humans Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, August 1, 2007; 293(2): E444 - E452. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Hadi, C. C. Chen, M. Whatley, K. Pacak, and J. A. Carrasquillo Brown Fat Imaging with 18F-6-Fluorodopamine PET/CT, 18F-FDG PET/CT, and 123I-MIBG SPECT: A Study of Patients Being Evaluated for Pheochromocytoma J. Nucl. Med., July 1, 2007; 48(7): 1077 - 1083. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Baba, M. Tatsumi, T. Ishimori, D. L. Lilien, J. M. Engles, and R. L. Wahl Effect of Nicotine and Ephedrine on the Accumulation of 18F-FDG in Brown Adipose Tissue J. Nucl. Med., June 1, 2007; 48(6): 981 - 986. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. D. EVANS, T. A. TULLOSS, and N. HALL 18FDG Uptake in Brown Fat: Potential for False Positives Radiol. Technol., May 1, 2007; 78(5): 361 - 366. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. J. Fueger, J. Czernin, I. Hildebrandt, C. Tran, B. S. Halpern, D. Stout, M. E. Phelps, and W. A. Weber Impact of Animal Handling on the Results of 18F-FDG PET Studies in Mice J. Nucl. Med., June 1, 2006; 47(6): 999 - 1006. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				W. A. Weber Brown Adipose Tissue and Nuclear Medicine Imaging J. Nucl. Med., July 1, 2004; 45(7): 1101 - 1103. [Full Text] [PDF]