Copper-67 labeled porphyrin localization in inflamed tissue

A series of experiments compared the uptake of 5,10,15,20 tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl) porphinato [67Cu] copper (II), 67CuTCPP, by the lymph nodes of inflamed and two sets or control rats. The results demonstrate that 67CuTCPP localizes in greater concentration in inflamed lymph nodes than in noninflamed control lymph nodes. This enhanced uptake of 67CuTCPP by inflamed lymph nodes was 3.6 times greater than was the uptake by control lymph nodes. A time course study demonstrated that the uptake of 67CuTCPP by inflamed lymph nodes reached the maximum level by 24 hours post-injection of 67CuTCPP and remained constant throughout the 96 hours examined. It was also found that the uptake of 67CuTCPP by inflamed lymph nodes was not exclusively dependent upon an increase in the weight of inflamed lymph nodes. These studies show that 67CuTCPP has potential as a lymphoscintigraphy agent.