Effect of metabolic inhibition on technetium-99m-MIBI kinetics in cultured chick myocardial cells

Cellular uptake characteristics of hexakis(methoxyisobutylisonitrile)technetium(I) ([99mTc]MIBI), a myocardial perfusion imaging agent, were evaluated in cultured chick embryo heart cells. Myocyte net uptake of 99mTc-MIBI approached a plateau with a half-time of 9.3 +/- 1.5 min (mean +/- s.e.m.; n = 10). Tracer [99mTc]MIBI showed apparent competitive displacement by carrier [99Tc]MIBI at relatively high molar ratios ([99mTc]MIBI/[99Tc]MIBI) indicating a low affinity cellular retention process (apparent KD approximately 7 x 10(-5)). Metabolic inhibition induced by pre-incubation of cells for 2.5 hr in rotenone (10 microM), iodoacetate (1 mM), or both metabolic inhibitors together reduced 1-min [99mTc] MIBI uptake to 74.1% +/- 8.0% (p less than 0.05), 6.2% +/- 3.4% (p less than 0.01), and 10.1% +/- 3.6% of control (p less than 0.01), respectively (n = 11-12). Half-maximal inhibitory concentration of iodoacetate was approximately 5 microM. Iodoacetate inhibition of [99mTc]MIBI uptake kinetics was time-dependent; no significant effect on [99mTc]MIBI uptake was seen during the first 60 min of metabolic inhibition despite significant depletion of ATP content determined on the same preparations (control ATP: 40.2 nmoles/mg protein versus iodoacetate incubation: 2.8 nmoles/mg protein; p less than 0.01). However, prolonged metabolic blockade did eventually depress 1-min [99mTc]MIBI uptake. These data indicate that a late component of myocardial cell injury can depress [99mTc]MIBI cellular uptake.