Developmental changes in tissue distribution of gallium-67 citrate.

The developmental changes in the biodistribution of [67Ga]citrate were studied in rats. The uptake of 67Ga in many tissues changed clearly with age and the fluctuation pattern was characteristic in each tissue. The uptake in heart and bone decreased, but increased in epiphysis with development. In liver, a transient increase in 67Ga accumulation appeared in the course of growth. These changes in 67Ga uptake in tissues were in good agreement with the developmental changes in the levels of nucleotides or protein synthesis that have been found by a large number of studies. These results suggest the existence of a close relationship between 67Ga accumulation and the growth rate of tissues.