Feasibility of 99mTc-TRODAT-1 Micro-SPECT imaging of dopamine transporter in animal retinas

In this paper, 99mTc-TRODAT-1 Micro-SPECT (single-photon emission computed tomography) was used for imaging dopamine transporter (DAT) in retinas and to investigate the changes of DAT in retinas of guinea pigs with form deprivation myopia. Pigmented guinea pigs aged 3 weeks were devided into form deprivation myopia (FDM) group (n=6) and normal control group (n=6). The test group wore translucent goggles randomly for 4 weeks, and both groups underwent biometric measurement (refraction and axial length) before and after the experiment. Micro-SPECT retinas imaging was performed at the 4th week after injection of 99mTc-TRODAT-1. The retinas were clearly resolved in the images. The ratio of 99mTc-TRODAT-1 uptake in the myopic retinas (11.55±2.80) was 3.64±1.40 lower than that in the control eye (15.20±1.98), and 2.35±1.05 lower than that in the fellow eyes (13.90±2.04). The results showed that 99mTc-TRODAT-1 Micro-SPECT eye imaging can be used to trace the distribution and changes of DAT in retina, and DAT in the myopic retinas were lower than that in the normal control eyes and fellow eyes. Micro-SPECT may provide a new approach for further studies on the role of dopamine system in the experimental myopia.