Spatially localized 31P NMR measurements of longitudinal relaxation rates in the canine myocardium

Spatial localization with modified Fourier series windows. Application to the transmural 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance analysis of the in vivo myocardium

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES

A modified Fourier Series Window (FSW) method is introduced that provides a simple, reasonably accurate, solution to spatial localization for layers in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. This method was developed because signal originating from spins immediately adjacent to the coil plane can leak into standard FSW localized spectra obtained from more distal layers.

METHODS

The B1 profile of the surface coil and a priori sample knowledge were used to generate modified FSW coefficients that largely compensate for contamination from proximal layers. These modified coefficients were used to acquire spatially localized spectra from a three-layered phantom containing inorganic phosphate, phosphocreatine, and pyrophosphate. Spatially localized spectra also were obtained from the open-chest canine myocardium.

RESULTS

The modified Fourier Series Window approach was validated using a quality assurance phantom. This method was then applied to the transmural analysis of 13C-containing metabolites in the in vivo canine myocardium during 3-(13)C sodium pyruvate infusion (n = 10). In vivo NMR spectra were characterized by resonances corresponding to the C2, C3, and C4 carbons of glutamic acid and to endogenous triacyglycerides and surface lipids. A transmural trend in metabolites could be observed under these conditions. This trend, however, was likely to result from the interference of surface lipids in the epicardial layer.

CONCLUSIONS

The authors demonstrate that the modified Fourier Series Window method can be applied in situations where signal-to-noise considerations limit the applicability of more sophisticated spatial localization methods. In addition, the authors report a slight gradient in the endogenous triacylglyceride resonance, which is likely to originate from the presence of surface lipids.

Sodium pentobarbital versus alpha-chloralose anesthesia. Experimental production of substantially different slopes in the transmural CP/ATP ratios within the left ventricle of the canine myocardium

BACKGROUND

Transmural analyses of the creatine phosphate (CP)/ATP ratio in various lamina of the canine myocardium have previously revealed significant variations in the CP/ATP ratio, with the subendocardial layer displaying a decreased ratio relative to the subepicardial layer. Without exception, these results were obtained under sodium pentobarbital anesthesia. These findings have been interpreted to imply that the normal endocardium may be operating in the oxygen-limited domain or that there are transmurally varying set points for the regulation of oxidative phosphorylation.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In this work, we examine the effect of the anesthetic regimen on the transmural CP/ATP ratio within the left ventricular wall of the canine myocardium using spatially localized 31P-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and an open-chest model. Two anesthetics were compared, alpha-chloralose and sodium pentobarbital. Under sodium pentobarbital, the CP/ATP ratio ranged from 1.92 +/- 0.06 to 2.51 +/- 0.08 from endocardium to epicardium, resulting in a transmural slope in the CP/ATP ratio of 0.149 +/- 0.047 (n = 22). Under alpha-chloralose, CP/ATP ratios ranged from 2.18 +/- 0.05 to 2.32 +/- 0.06, with a transmural slope of 0.035 +/- 0.018 (n = 38). Thus, the transmural slope in CP/ATP ratio was nearly four times greater with sodium pentobarbital than with alpha-chloralose, and the difference in these slopes was statistically significant (P = .029). No difference was observed in average CP/ATP obtained from the entire wall with either anesthetic.

CONCLUSIONS

These results demonstrate that the transmural trend in CP/ATP ratio previously reported in the myocardium is likely to be a direct reflection of the sodium pentobarbital anesthetic regimen, not truly reflecting the trend in the normal unanesthetized animal. Moreover, since the transmural variation in CP/ATP ratio was greatly reduced with alpha-chloralose, it appears unlikely that the endocardium in the normal unanesthetized heart is operating in the oxygen-limited domain. These results also point to the importance of the anesthetic regimen in biochemical analysis, indicate the necessity of increased caution in directly translating results obtained under anesthesia, and demonstrate the unique power of in vivo NMR to extract such subtle biochemical information.

31P-nuclear magnetic resonance studies of chronic myocardial ischemia in the Yucatan micropig

In this work, an x-irradiation/high fat/high cholesterol diet-induced atherogenic model was invoked to examine the effects of severe diffuse atherosclerosis on myocardial metabolism in the in vivo porcine heart. This model was studied using spatially localized 31P-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to monitor pH and the levels of inorganic phosphate, phosphomonoesters, creatine phosphate, and adenosine triphosphate as a function of workload transmurally in control swine and in animals suffering from chronic ischemic heart disease. These preliminary studies revealed that the development of severe atherosclerosis and the accompanying chronically diseased state produce changes in high energy phosphates and that increases in rate pressure products result in demonstrable signs of ischemia in the myocardium which span the entire left ventricular wall. Ischemic changes include a global increase in inorganic phosphate and corresponding decreases in creatine phosphate, ATP, and pH. Importantly, changes in intracellular pH are noted with even the slightest increase in workload suggesting that these diseased hearts display elevated glycolytic activity. By challenging these animals with increased cardiac workload, we directly visualize how the chronically compromised heart responds to severe oxygen challenges in a clinically relevant model of this situation.

Transmural saturation transfer analysis of the creatine kinase system in the mammalian heart

31P NMR spatial localization and saturation transfer techniques were combined to enable the transmural measurement of the forward creatine kinase (CK) rate (ATP:creatine N-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.3.2.) in the in vivo canine myocardium. Five epicardial towards endocardial regions of the left ventricle (LV) were simultaneously examined using spatially localized voxels. Although intraleft ventricular CP/ATP ratios were constant, the pseudo first order rate constant (k') and the forward creatine kinase rate (Rf) displayed a 61% variation across the LV wall. Because CK levels and calculated [ADP], [CP] and pH are transmurally invariant in the normal left ventricle, the observed changes in the Rf could not be explained by changes in the absolute levels of these substrates and of creatine kinase. In addition, because myocardial oxygen consumption rates are known to be higher in the endocardium, these results imply that forward creatine kinase rates are not directly related to oxidative phosphorylation rates.