[125I] radioiodinated metaraminol: a new platelet-specific labeling agent.

In our search for a platelet-specific labeling agent, metaraminol (MA), a low-toxic pharmaceutical for the treatment of hypotension and cardiogenic shock, attracted our attention. Its active incorporation and accumulation by platelets have been recognized. At first, the preparation of 125I radioiodinated metaraminol (125I-MA) was carried out using the chloramine-T method. Then, upon the harvest of platelets as platelet-rich plasma (PRP), their labeling with this new radiopharmaceutical was easily performed by incubation for 10 min at 37 degrees C. The cell-labeling efficiency was dependent on cell density, reaching 63.0% +/- 3.1% at 2.4 X 10(9) cells/ml. The specific incorporation of 125I-MA by an active transport system similar to that of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) as well as by passive diffusion was demonstrated. In in vitro studies, the unaltered state of 125I-MA-labeled platelets with their cellular functions fully retained was estimated. In vivo studies carried out in rabbits with induced thrombi in the femoral artery showed a rather rapid disappearance of the radioactivity from circulating blood, reaching a high thrombus-to-blood activity ratio of 19.8 +/- 4.3 within 30 min of the administration of 125I-MA-labeled autologous platelets. Thus, with the potential availability of 123I, 123I-MA-labeled platelets appear to be a promising agent for thrombus imaging using single-emission computed tomography (CT) studies.