Uptake of cis-4-[18F]fluoro-L-proline in scar formation: a marker of collagen synthesis?

Excessive scar formation is accompanied by abnormal collagen synthesis. The feasibility of monitoring collagen synthesis in vivo with no-carrier-added cis-4[F]fluoro-L-proline (cis-FPro) was evaluated in an animal model with scar formation induced by implanted meshes. The abdominal wall of rats was replaced by alloplastic meshes. At days 3, 7, 14, 21 and 90 after implantation, the uptake of cis-FPro at 4 h post-injection was determined for resected samples of the mesh and normal tissues. The highest uptake was found in the kidneys (1.73±0.47%ID/g) followed by the liver (0.59±0.19%ID/g). The meshes showed the maximum uptake at day 3 (0.20±0.07%ID/g) with a decrease to 0.10±0.03%ID/g at day 90 (P