C-11-methionine uptake to the pancreas and its secretion: A positron emission tomography study in humans

The aim of this study was to investigate the uptake of [C-11-methyl]-L-meth ionine (C-11-methionine) in the human pancreas by analyzing dynamic positro n emission tomography (PET) images and the duodenal aspirate. A double-lume n tube was inserted in the duodenum and dynamic PET was performed in seven healthy volunteers for 110 min after intravenous (i.v.) injection of C-11-m ethionine during the continuous i.v. administration of secretin (125 ng/kg/ h) and cerulein (30 ng/kg/h). For the calculation of the radioactivity in t he pancreas, the regions of interest were set on the PET images. Radioactiv ity was measured in 10-min fractions of duodenal juice. After i.v. injectio n, C-11-methionine accumulated in the pancreas within a few minutes, and th e radioactivity plateaued during the study. The radiolabeled proteins in th e duodenal juice increased linearly 30 min after C-11-methionine injection, but the relative rates of radioactivity in the protein precipitate to the total count in the duodenal juice were 44-48%. From these findings, it was concluded that C-11-methionine accumulation in the pancreas is very rapid a fter the i.v. administration, and only a part of methionine uptake to the p ancreas is incorporated into secretory proteins. The pancreatic C-11-methio nine uptake detected by PET may represent a new aspect of exocrine pancreat ic function that has not been expressed by the conventional intubation meth od.