Small Rodent Animal Positron Emission Tomography/Single Photon Emission Tomography

The recent development of noninvasive radionuclide and hybrid imaging systems may promote preclinical cardiovascular research. Molecular imaging advances beyond the traditional imaging paradigm of detecting morphological contrasts and aims to explore the physiological and pathological molecular processes at cellular and subcellular levels within intact living subjects. Molecular imaging typically uses targeted tracers that bind specific molecular targets with high affinity. Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET) provide distinct advantages over morphological imaging modalities regarding the detection of signals on a molecular level. Monitoring of small rodent animal models of cardiac diseases utilizing noninvasive imaging is a unique approach and is essential to further understand the dynamic processes of diseases. Here, we review the applications of SPECT and PET in small animal research.

Keywords: Molecular imaging, PET, SPECT, Small rodent.