Background: Positron emission tomography (PET) has the potential for visualization and quantification of gastric emptying (GE). The traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been recognized promising for constipation. This study aimed to establish a PET imaging method for noninvasive GE measurement and to evaluate the efficacy of a TCM on delayed GE caused by constipation using PET imaging.
Methods: [68Ga]Ga-NOTA was synthesized as the tracer and sesame paste with different viscosity were selected as test meals. The dynamic PET scans were performed after [68Ga]Ga-NOTA mixed with test meals were administered to normal mice. Two methods were utilized for the quantification of PET imaging. A constipation mouse model was treated with maren chengqi decoction (MCD), and the established PET imaging scans were performed after the treatment.
Results: [68Ga]Ga-NOTA was synthesized within 20 min, and its radiochemical purity was > 95%. PET images showed the dynamic process of GE. %ID/g, volume, and total activity correlated well with each other. Among which, the half of GE time derived from %ID/g for 4 test meals were 3.92 ± 0.87 min, 13.1 ± 1.25 min, 17.8 ± 1.31 min, and 59.7 ± 3.11 min, respectively. Constipation mice treated with MCD showed improved body weight and fecal conditions as well as ameliorated GE measured by [68Ga]Ga-NOTA PET.
Conclusions: A PET imaging method for noninvasive GE measurement was established with stable radiotracer, high image quality, and reliable quantification methods. The efficacy of MCD on delayed GE was demonstrated using PET.
Keywords: Constipation; Gastric emptying; Positron emission tomography; Traditional Chinese medicine; [68Ga]Ga-NOTA.