C-11- and I-123-labeled long chain fatty acid derivatives have been reported as useful radiopharmaceuticals for the estimation of myocardial fatty acid metabolism. We have reported that Tc-99m-labeled
N-[[[(2-mercaptoethyl)amino]carbonyl]methyl]-N-(2-mercaptoethyl)-6-aminohexanoic acid ([99mTc]MAMA-HA), a medium chain fatty acid derivative, is metabolized by β-oxidation in the liver and that
the MAMA ligand is useful for attaching to the omega-position of fatty acid derivatives as a chelating
group for Tc-99m. On the basis of these findings, we focused on developing a Tc-99m-labeled long
chain fatty acid derivative that reflected fatty acid metabolism in the myocardium. In this study, we
synthesized a dodecanoic acid derivative, MAMA-DA, and a hexadecanoic acid derivative, MAMA-HDA, and performed radiolabeling and biodistribution studies. [99mTc]MAMA-DA and [99mTc]MAMA-HDA were prepared using a ligand-exchange reaction. Biodistribution studies were carried out in
normal mice and rats. Then, a high initial uptake of Tc-99m was observed, followed by a rapid clearance
from the heart. The maximum heart/blood ratio was 3.6 at 2 min postinjection of [99mTc]MAMA-HDA.
These kinetics were similar to those with postinjection of p-[125I]iodophenylpentadecanoic acid.
Metabolite analysis showed [99mTc]MAMA-HDA was metabolized by β-oxidation in the body. In
conclusion, [99mTc]MAMA-HDA is a promising compound as a long chain fatty acid analogue for
estimating β-oxidation of fatty acid in the heart.