Quantitative whole-body autoradiography: past, present and future

Traditional bioanalytical measurements determine concentrations of drug and metabolites in plasma; however, most drugs exert their effects in defined target tissues. As there is no clear relation between concentrations in plasma and those in tissue, alternative methods must be employed to study the absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion properties of new therapeutic agents. Quantitative whole-body autoradiography is used in the drug development process to determine the distribution and concentrations of radiolabeled test compounds in laboratory animals. Quantitative whole-body autoradiography can provide information on tissue PKs, penetration, accumulation and retention. Although the technique is considered the industry standard for performing preclinical tissue distribution studies, it is perhaps timely, 60 years after the first reported use of the method, to re-assess the technique against modern alternatives.