@article {Ollier141, author = {Monique Ollier and Jean-Claude Maurizis and Colette Nicolas and Jacques Bonafous and Monique de Latour and Annie Veyre and Jean-Claude Madelmont}, title = {Joint Scintigraphy in Rabbits with 99mTc-N-[3-(triethylammonio)propyl]-15ane-N5, a New Radiodiagnostic Agent for Articular Cartilage Imaging}, volume = {42}, number = {1}, pages = {141--145}, year = {2001}, publisher = {Society of Nuclear Medicine}, abstract = {The aim of this study was to investigate joint scintigraphy in rabbits with 99mTc-N-[3-(triethylammonio)propyl]-15ane-N5 (NTP 15-5), a new radiopharmaceutical that specifically localizes in cartilaginous tissues. Methods: Scans obtained after intravenous injection of the 99mTc-labeled compound in normal and arthropathy-induced rabbits were compared with those of the bone-imaging agent 99mTc{\textendash}methylene diphosphonate (99mTc{\textendash}MDP). Results: The radioactive uptake of 99mTc{\textendash}NTP 15-5 was detected in cartilaginous tissues 5 min after injection and was stable for 2 h. The uptake intensity was related to age and joint disease severity, and cartilage alterations not revealed by radiography induced a significant decrease of radiotracer uptake. On the other hand, imaging performed with 99mTc{\textendash}MDP did not reveal the early changes in arthrosis but was more specific for bone remodeling in advanced stages of diseases or in inflammatory processes. Conclusion: Our results indicate that 99mTc{\textendash}NTP 15-5 could be a good tracer for human arthrosic and arthritic cartilage detection, especially for the early diagnosis of joint diseases.}, issn = {0161-5505}, URL = {https://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/42/1/141}, eprint = {https://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/42/1/141.full.pdf}, journal = {Journal of Nuclear Medicine} }