Detection of Active Caspase-3 in Mouse Models of Stroke and Alzheimer’s Disease with a Novel Dual Positron Emission Tomography/Fluorescent Tracer [⁶⁸Ga]Ga-TC3-OGDOTA

Figure 4

Ga-TC3-OGDOTA accumulates in apoptotic neurons in vitro in ischemia and AD cell culture models. (a–d) Ga-TC3-OGDOTA accumulation in primary neurons treated with OGD was analyzed in live cultures (a, b) and in fixed cultures costained for nuclei (Hoechst) and CC3 (c, d). (a) Representative images of live OGD-treated and control cultures. (b) Quantification of Ga-TC3-OGDOTA-positive (OG+) live cells in OGD/control cultures. (c) Representative images of fixed/immunostained control (top-left), OGD (top-right), and OGD zoomed (bottom) cultures. (d) Quantification of Ga-TC3-OGDOTA-positive (OG+) and CC3-positive cells in fixed OGD/control cultures. (e–h) Ga-TC3-OGDOTA accumulation in primary neurons treated with AβOs was analyzed in live cultures (e, f) and in fixed cultures costained for nuclei (Hoechst) and CC3 (g, h). (e) Representative images of live AβO-treated and control cultures. (f) Quantification of Ga-TC3-OGDOTA-positive (OG+) live cells. (g) Representative images of fixed control (top-left), AβO (top-right), and AβO zoomed (bottom) cultures. (h) Quantification of Ga-TC3-OGDOTA-positive (OG+) and CC3-positive cells in fixed AβO/control cultures. Cells presenting high levels of both Ga-TC3-OGDOTA and CC3 are marked with white arrows, while those with preferential Ga-TC3-OGDOTA or CC3 accumulation are marked with green or red arrows, respectively. Data were collected from at least 3 independent cultures for each condition and analyzed with Student’s t-test or Two-way ANOVA. ; ; .