Allen Ye1, Jeffrey L. Duerk1,2, Chris A. Flask1,2, Gheorghe D. Mateescu3
1Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA; 2Radiology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA; 3Chemistry, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
Multinuclear MRS provides a powerful platform for studying metabolism in many diseases. We have developed a novel application of Deuterium MRS to measure mitochondrial function in vivo. This straightforward method consists of the administration of deuteriated glucose to live organisms (mice, larvae) resulting in the formation of detectable levels of deuteriated metabolic water (D2O/HDO). Preliminary glucose consumption data are reported at 9.4T. A particularly important aspect of this novel approach is the simultaneous determination of glucose and oxygen consumption. Potential translation into the clinic will be useful in the diagnosis and treatment of mitochondrial diseases.