Regional Characterization of the Gottingen Minipig Brain by [18 F]FDG Dynamic Pet Modeling

Purpose To determine the best kinetic model to be applied on dynamic brain [ 18 F]FDG PET images by characterizing the regional brain glucose metabolism of normal Göttingen minipigs. Methods Nine Göttingen minipigs were scanned with a clinical PET/CT tomograph, starting from the injection of an intravenous bolus of [ 18 F]FDG, for about 25 min. Dynamic images were reconstructed and nine brain regions of interest (ROI), plus a vascular region, were defined and time-activity curves (TAC) were determined. Three kinetic models were considered for fitting with experimental TACs: one-tissue compartment model 1TC, two-tissue irreversible compartment model 2TCi and two-tissue reversible model 2TC. Akaike Information Criterion was considered to evaluate the goodness of each model fitting. Regional and global kinetic parameter values were evaluated, in addition to the partition coefficient, net influx rate and retention index (RI). Results Both 2TCi and 2TC models turned out to be good choices for the next analysis. Parameter values were very similar between the different brain regions, with similar values to when the brain as a whole is considered (kinetic parameters mean values, from 2TCi model: K 1 = 1.0 ml/g/min, k 2 = 0.49 min − 1 , k 3 = 0.034 min − 1 , K 1 /k 2 = 2.14ml/g, K i =0.069 ml/g/min; from 2TC model: K 1 = 1.10 ml/g/min, k 2 = 0.54 min − 1 , k 3 = 0.058 min − 1 , k 4 = 0.039 min − 1 , K 1 /k 2 = 2.18 ml/g, K i = 0.10 ml/g/min; RI mean ± sd: 0.147 ± 0.037 min − 1 ), with the exception of the cerebellum (mean values from the 2TCi model: K 1 = 0.52 ml/g/min, k 2 = 0.56 min − 1 , k 3 = 0.025 min − 1 , K 1 /k 2 = 0.98ml/g, K i = 0.022 ml/g/min; from 2TC model: K 1 = 0.54 ml/g/min, k 2 = 0.61 min − 1 , k 3 = 0.044 min − 1 , k 4 = 0.038 min − 1 , K 1 /k 2 = 0.95ml/g, K i =0.032 ml/g/min; RI mean ± sd: 0.071 ± 0.018 min − 1 ). Conclusion The two-tissue model is able to describe the regional brain metabolism in Göttingen minipigs. Compared to the 2TCi model, in the 2TC model the k 4 micro-parameter was also evaluated. This led to adjustments of the other microparameters, especially k 3 and consequently the net influx rate K i . For healthy minipigs, the glucose metabolism was similar in all of the brain regions analyzed, with the exception of the cerebellum, where the FDG uptake was lower.