Using PET/CT imaging to characterize 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose utilization in fish.

Area of Science:

• Comparative oncology
• Animal models in biomedical research

Background:

• Mammalian models are standard in cancer research, but alternatives are sought.
• Combined positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) is a powerful imaging tool, largely unutilized in fish.
• Fish offer potential as alternative research models due to physiological similarities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the viability of fish as alternative animal models for cancer research using FDG-PET/CT.
• To analyze glucose uptake similarities between fish and humans in key organs.
• To evaluate the potential of fish in oncogenesis, metabolism, and environmental carcinogenesis studies.

Main Methods:

• Utilized combined ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) imaging in multiple fish species.
• Quantified glucose uptake in various organs, focusing on brain, kidneys, and liver.
• Compared standard uptake values (SUVs) of glucose in fish organs to those of humans, mice, and dogs.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated rapid and quantifiable glucose uptake in fish, particularly in the brain, kidneys, and liver.
• Observed that standard uptake values for glucose in fish organs were more comparable to humans than to mice or dogs.
• Successfully applied advanced PET/CT imaging technology to fish models.

Conclusions:

• Fish exhibit significant glucose uptake patterns similar to humans, supporting their use as alternative models in biomedical research.
• FDG-PET/CT is a viable technique for studying fish, enabling detailed anatomical and metabolic imaging.
• Fish represent a promising alternative to mammalian models for cancer, metabolism, and environmental carcinogenesis research.