In vivo SPECT quantification of transplanted cell survival after engraftment using (111)In-tropolone in infarcted canine myocardium.

Unlabelled: Current investigations of cell transplant therapies in damaged myocardium are limited by the inability to quantify cell transplant survival in vivo. We describe how the labeling of cells with (111)In can be used to monitor transplanted cell viability in a canine infarction model.

Methods: We experimentally determined the contribution of the (111)In signal associated with transplanted cell (TC) death and radiolabel leakage to the measured SPECT signal when (111)In-labeled cells were transplanted into the myocardium.