Influence of a TcN core on the biological and physicochemical behavior of Tc complexes of L,L-EC and L,L-ECD

^99mTc-nitrido complexes of L,L-ethylene dicysteine (^99mTcN-L,L-EC) and ^99mTcN-L,L-ethylene dicysteine diethylester (^99mTcN-L,L-ECD) were prepared and their characteristics compared to those of the respective ^99mTc-oxo complexes. ^99mTcN-L,L-EC and ^99mTcO-L,L-EC migrate to similar extents during electrophoresis at pH 12, but, at pH 6, ^99mTcN-L,L-EC migrates further than ^99mTcO-L,L-EC. Renal excretion of ^99mTcN-L,L-EC is inferior to that of ^99mTcO-L,L-EC, indicating that the TcN-glycine sequence has lower affinity for the renal tubular system. Both ^99mTcO-L,L-ECD and ^99mTcN-L,L-ECD are neutral, but ^99mTcN-L,L-ECD is hydrophilic and shows minimal brain uptake in both mice and the baboon.