Dynamic behavior of selected PET tracers in embryonated chicken eggs

Positron emission tomography/computer tomography (PET/CT) is an established method in the preclinical research of small animal disease models and in the clinical diagnosis of cancer. It combines the functional information of the positron-emitting biomarker with the anatomical data from the CT image, thereby allowing for the 4D in vivo investigation of biological processes of interest. Recently, the bone growth of chicken embryos was monitored using [¹⁸F]fluoride as a bone-seeking tracer. We are interested to investigate additional PET/CT tracers in embryonated chicken eggs as in vivo model system. The properties of ¹⁸F-, ⁶⁸Ga-labelled tracers and ⁶⁴Cu-chloride were studied in catheterised eggs via small animal microPET/CT. [¹⁸F]FDG was primarily absorbed at sites of bone growth. ⁶⁴Cu chloride and a ⁶⁸Ga-labelled amyloid-fibril-binding antibody accumulated in the liver, while ⁶⁸Ga-albumin desferrioxamine conjugate was rapidly cleared. The method potentially can be utilised to monitor biological processes in chicken eggs.