Visualization of early infarction in rat brain after ischemia using a translocator protein (18Â kDa) PET ligand [11C]DAC with ultra-high specific activity

►In this study, we used [11C]DAC with high SA (4060 GBq/μmol) to perform autoradiography and PET studies on the infarcted rat brains at day 2 after ischemia. ►The early infarction in the brain could be visualized using PET with high SA [11C]DAC. ►In vitro autoradiography showed that the TSPO expression increased on the infarcted area. ►High SA [11C]DAC is a useful biomarker for infarction by investigating the TSPO expression with small changes in the neuroinflammatory brain.