Resolving confounding enrichment kinetics due to overlapping resonance signals from 13C-enriched long chain fatty acid oxidation and uptake within intact hearts

Abstract

Purpose Long chain fatty acid (LCFA) oxidation measurements in the intact heart from 13C-NMR rely on detection of 13C-enriched glutamate. However, progressive increases in overlapping resonance signal from LCFA can confound detection of the glutamate 4-carbon (GLU-C4) signal. We evaluated alternative 13C labeling for exogenous LCFA and developed a simple scheme to distinguish kinetics of LCFA uptake and storage from oxidation. Methods Sequential 13C-NMR spectra were acquired from isolated rat hearts perfused with 13C LCFA and glucose. Spectra were evaluated from hearts supplied: U 13C LCFA, [2,4,6,8,10,12,14,16-13C8] palmitate, [2,4,6,8,10,12,14,16,18-13C9] oleate, [4,6,8,10,12,14,16-13C7] palmitate, or [4,6,8,10,12,14,16,18-13C8] oleate. Results 13C signal reflected the progressive enrichment at 34.6 ppm from GLU-C4, confounded by additional signal with distinct kinetics attributed to 13C-enriched LCFA 2-carbon (34.0 ppm). Excluding 13C at the 2-carbon of both palmitate and oleate eliminated signal overlap and enabled detection of the exponential enrichment of GLU-C4 for assessing LCFA oxidation. Conclusion Eliminating enrichment at the 2-carbon of 13C LCFA resolved confounding kinetics between GLU-C4 and LCFA 2-carbon signals. With this enrichment scheme, oxidation of LCFA, the primary fuel for cardiac ATP synthesis, can now be more consistently examined in whole organs with dynamic mode, proton-decoupled 13C-NMR. Magn Reson Med 74:330-335, 2015.