Small Animal Imaging

The Small Animal Imaging Shared Resource (SAISR) provides state-of-the-art in vivo imaging technologies and related diagnostic and radio-therapeutic services to JCCC and UCLA faculty, staff and students. The SAISR is a world-class, first-of-its-kind small animal imaging technology development and shared resources facility, providing JCCC investigators with technical imaging expertise and facilitating the design, execution and analysis of in vivo small animal imaging studies.

Our aims are:

To provide and develop state-of-the-art small animal imaging technologies to address the evolving needs of JCCC researchers.
To provide radiochemistry and radiolabeling services to support production of established PET tracers or development of novel tracers for investigator imaging studies.
To support and train JCCC investigators in radiochemistry, preclinical imaging, and image analysis.

The SAISR offers full-service whole body microPET, microCT and optical imaging and complementary in vitro/ex vivo assays to measure tissue function and structure. Companion PET tracer radiochemistry and radiolabeling services are available in-house through the adjacent radiochemistry and cyclotron facility. Study design and development, training in imaging techniques, and staff assistance are offered regularly to all users free of charge. Please contact the SAISR at [email protected] to get started.

In Vivo Imaging Services

Nuclear imaging

Positron emission tomography (microPET)
- Static and dynamic whole body functional imaging
- Extensive panel of radiolabeled small molecule PET tracers (readily available)
- Peptide/protein radiolabeling service and workspace
Computed tomography (microCT)
- Whole body anatomical imaging
- Quick scan time for in vivo imaging (1-2min)
- Down to 18.6 µm (specimen imaging) and 100 µm (in vivo imaging) resolution
- Contrast enhancement of soft tissues such as lymph nodes, spleen, liver, heart, gastrointestinal, major blood vessels

Optical imaging

Bioluminescence, Fluorescence and Cerenkov imaging
Whole body, multi-animal imaging
Cell localization, target trafficking, longitudinal studies
BLI: D-luciferin substrate provided
FLI: multiple excitation/emission filters including near-infrared

MRI imaging

Aspect 1T preclinical MRI system(156 micron resolution)
ECG-gated cardiac MRI available

Complementary services

Routine productions of established PET tracers
Novel PET tracer consultation and development
Biologics radiolabeling
Toxicology of new PET tracers for IND submission (through UCLA DLAM)
Imaging-based pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics studies
Radiotherapeutic labeling (e.g. Lu-177, Y-90) and efficacy studies
PET tracer whole body biodistribution and dosimetry
PET tracer metabolite analysis
In vivo and ex vivo biodistribution studies of imaging agents
In vitro binding and uptake assays (e.g. radiolabeled PET tracers; fluorescent biomarkers)
In vitro and ex vivo (tissue or whole body) autoradiography
Quantitative image analysis and training
Image data processing and 2D slice or 3D volume renderings
DICOM formatting and archiving

Equipment

In vivo imaging

GNEXT combined microPET/CT scanner (Sofie Biosciences)
Genisys 8 combined microPET/CT scanner (Sofie Biosciences)
In-house quick microCT scanner (CrumpCAT)
IVIS Lumina II bioluminescent and fluorescent optical imaging system
Maestro fluorescent imaging system with NIR imaging and spectral unmixing (CRi)

Sample imaging

High resolution (18 micron) CT scan of fixed tissues or samples

Radiochemistry and radiolabeling

Siemens RDS-111 cyclotron
multiple Sofie Biosciences ELIXYS FLEX/CHEM automated radiosynthesizers
Raytest Ginastar radio-TLC reader
multiple Knauer Smartline HPLC systems with Bioscan gamma detectors
multiple Capintec CRC-25 PET dose calibrators
Agilent gas chromatograph with mass spec detector
Iodination chamber
Cerenkov imaging system

Complementary instruments

Wizard 3" automatic gamma counter (Perkin Elmer)
Leica CM3600 XP cryomacrotome – whole body sectioning
Leica CM3050 cryomicrotome – tissue sectioning
FUJIFILM BAS-500 phosphor imaging system
Agilent 1100 HPLC with UV/Vis detector, Bioscan Flow-Count radiation detector and fraction collector
Cell culture facility: biosafety cabinet, incubator, microscope, centrifuge
Adams MHCT II whole blood micro-hematocrit centrifuge – blood separation
Microfuge 22R centrifuge (Beckman Coulter)
Isoflurane vaporizers, induction chambers, nose cones, and animal heating stations
Multiple BSL2-level biosafety cabinets and chemical fume hoods
Adjacent full-service DLAM vivarium and procedure room for mice and rats (through DLAM)

Operations

New investigators can contact the SAISR at [email protected] to discuss potential studies, experimental design, data analysis, and for questions or advice
After training, JCCC researchers can readily use the SAISR through secure keycard access around the clock
Experiments are generally performed by members of the investigator’s lab after SAISR training, with expertise and assistance from the SAISR faculty and staff
Animal housing facility: Adjacent to the Imaging Center is a barrier facility for housing animals before and after imaging with biosafety cabinets for procedures
The Imaging Center is fully certified by UCLA’s Office of Animal Research Oversight (OARO) and Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) for animal welfare and radiation, laboratory, biological and chemical safety procedures

Pricing

Service	JCCC Rate	Per Unit
microPET/CTon Genisys8	$207	Hour
microPET on Iveon or Focus220	$135	Hour
microCT	$73	Hour
Optical imaging (includes D-luciferin)	$79	Hour
Usage of gamma counter, cryomacrotome, cryomicrotome, Fuji BAS phosphor imager, procedure workspace, etc.	$31	Hour
Imaging staff assistance	$48	Hour

List of Available PET Tracers

PET Probe	Type	Biological Application
[¹⁸F]FDG	Glucose	Glycolysis (oncology, neurology, etc.)
[¹⁸F]NaF	Hydroxyapatite	bone scan; cardiac calcification; oncology (e.g. prostate cancer bone metastasis)
[¹⁸F]FLT	Thymidine (nucleoside analog)	Proliferation; nucleoside metabolism (e.g. oncology, immunology)
[¹⁸F]FAC (and analogs)	Deoxycytidine (nucleoside analog)	Immunology (e.g. adaptive immune response; immunotherapies) oncology (e.g. treatment stratification of nucleoside analog prodrugs)
[¹⁸F]clofarabine	Purine (nucleoside analog	Immunology; oncology
[¹⁸F]AraG	Guanosine (nucleoside analog)	Immunology; oncology
[¹⁸F]FHBG, FEAU, L-FMAU, FIAU (and analogs)	Guanosine (nucieoside analog)	Immunology; oncology
[¹⁸F]FDHT	Testosterone	Oncology (prostate cancer)
[¹⁸F]FDOPA	Amino acid (phenylalanine)	Neuroscience (dopaminergic) oncology: brain tumors
[¹⁸F]fallypride	Dopamine receptor antagonist	Neuroscience (dopaminergic)
[¹⁸F]FDDNP	Ammonia	Routinely for clinical imaging: neurology (e.g., Alzheimer's disease)
[¹¹C]acetate	Acetate	Oncology (prostate cancer) fatty acid synthesis
ImmunoPET (various radioisotopes)	Full antibodies and antibody fragments	Oncology, immunology, cell surface targets
[⁶⁸Ga]DOTA-TOC	Somatostatin analogs	Oncology (e.g., neuroendocrine tumors)
[⁶⁸Ga]DOTA-NOC	Somatostatin analogs	Oncology (e.g., neuroendocrine tumors)
[¹¹C]choline	Choline	Oncology (prostate cancer)
[¹¹C]L-glutamine	Glutamine	Oncology; glutamine metabolism
[¹⁸F]fluorobenzyl triphenylphosphonium ([¹⁸F]FBnTP)	Mitohondrial membrane potential	Oncology
[¹⁸F]florbetaben	Amyloid	Neuroscience

Protein/Peptide Labeling

[¹⁸F]SFB	Prosthetic group	Peptide/protein labeling
[¹⁸F]FBAM	Prosthetic group	Peptide/protein labeling
[¹⁸F]FBEM	Prosthetic group	Peptide/protein labeling
[¹⁸F]fluorobenzaldehyde	Prosthetic group	Peptide/protein labeling
[¹⁸F]fluoroethyl-PEG₃-azide	Prosthetic group	Peptide/protein labeling

Other Isotopes Can be Purchased from External Groups for Use at the SAISR

Imaging

89-zirconium (⁸⁹Zr) – 3D Imaging; Washington University St Louis
64-copper (⁶⁴Cu) – Washington University St Louis
86-yttrium (⁸⁶Y) – Washington University St Louis
124-iodine (¹²⁴I) – 3D Imaging

Radiotherapy

177-lutetium (¹⁷⁷Lu) – Oak Ridge National Laboratory
90-yttrium (⁹⁰Y) – Perkin Elmer
111-indium (¹¹¹In) – Nordion
125-iodine (¹²⁶I) – Perkin Elmer
131-iodine (¹³¹I) – Perkin Elmer