[Organ distribution of ruthenocenyl biogenic amine derivatives--radiodiagnostic agents for the adrenals and ovaries?].

The organ distribution of 103Ru labelled ruthenocenyl derivatives of tyramine, histamine, benzylamine, phenylethylamine and homoveratrylamine were measured in rats. The derivatives of tyramine, histamine and benzylamine showed a high affinity for the adrenal and ovar. Adrenal/muscle ratios up to 2000:1 were gained but only if the dose was administered i.v. and was below 0.1 mumol/kg. The ruthenocenyl derivatives of tyramine labelled with 103Ru in the ruthenocene moiety or with 14C in the tyramine moiety showed a parallel distribution pattern but completely different from the distribution of 103RuCl3. This indicates that the tyramine derivatives are not destroyed in the body yielding Ru-ions. The advantages of the ruthenocenyl derivatives in comparison with the known amphetamine derivatives labelled with radioactive iodine are discussed.