Ex Vivo Imaging of Pancreatic Beta Cells using a Radiolabeled GLP-1 Receptor Agonist

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the binding specificity of the radiolabeled glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonist (Lys(40)(DOTA)NH2)Exendin-4 in the pancreas using a combination of ex vivo autoradiography and immunohistochemistry. Procedures: Sprague-Dawley rats were administered [Cu-64](Lys(40)(DOTA)NH2)Exendin-4 i.v. with or without unlabeled Exendin (9-39) to determine binding specificity. Similar experiments were performed using Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) and Zucker lean (ZLC) rats. Animals were euthanized and the pancreas was extracted, immediately frozen, and sectioned. The sections were apposed to phosphor imaging plates, scanned, and immunostained for insulin. Results: Co-registration of the autoradiographic and immunohistochemical images revealed that [Cu-64](Lys(40)(DOTA)NH2)Exendin-4 specific binding was restricted to islet cells. This binding was blocked by the co-administration of Exendin(9-39) indicating that the radiotracer uptake is mediated by GLP-1R. Uptake of [Cu-64](Lys(40)(DOTA)NH2)Exendin-4 was greatly decreased in the pancreas of ZDF rats. Conclusions: Ex vivo autoradiography results using [Cu-64](Lys(40)(DOTA)NH2)Exendin-4 suggest that GLP-1R agonists based on Exendin-4 are attractive PET ligands for the in vivo determination of beta-cell mass.