Aim To study the feasibility of noninvasive detection of atherosclerotic unstable lesions with technetium-99m radiolabeled(99mTc-annexinV)by the single photon emission computed tomography(SPECT). Methods Atherosclerotic plaques animal models were produced in 5 rabbits by 15 weeks of cholesterol diet.Other 3 rabbits were fed on normal diet without manipulation as contrast.All animals were injected 99m Tc-annexin V 200 Ci/g,30 Ci/g and 16 Ci/g respectively.Atherosclerotic plaques images were performed by SPECT at 5,30,60,120 minutepoints after injection. Results In the control rabbits,little radiodistribution was found in aortic artery at 5th minute and clear away at 120th minute.The atherosclerotic plaque models can be seen explicit radiodistribution with varied inject doses at 5th minute.Furthermore, image agent was uptaken higher with more radioactivity dosage at 120th minute. Conclusion 99mTc-annexin V SPECT could be an attractive imaging method for the noninvasive detection of atherosclerotic plaques in vivo.