The role of lysosomal enzyme activity in the localization of 67 gallium citrate.

The distribution of 67Ga citrate at 24 h post injection has been studied in the normal tissues of the mouse, rat and dog; 13 transplantable mouse tumours and 7 rat tumours have also been examined. The total activities of four lysosomal enzymes, aryl sulphatase, beta-glucuronidase, acid phosphatase and cathepsin-D were measured as well as the incorporation of thymidine-3H and leucine-14C ad indicators of DNA and protein synthesis. The results show a close correlation between 67Ga uptake and lysosomal enzyme activity in the tumours studied, which is an extension of the same relationship for normal tissues. It is suggested that the reported correlation between the uptake of 67Ga and the rate of cellular proliferation is secondary to the primary function of the lysosome in the localisation of the nuclide, lysosomal enzyme activity also being enhanced in situations of increased metabolic activity. A similar relationship appears to occur following administration of 111IN-Bleomycin and 99mTc-Citrate.