In Vivo Assessment of the Effects of Pioglitazone on Myocardial Triglyceride Content & Cardiac Function in Diabetic Mice using 1H MRS & MRI

Desiree Abdurrachim¹, Klaas Nicolay¹, Jeanine J Prompers¹

Myocardial triglyceride (TG) accumulation has been shown to be associated with the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy. Pioglitazone is one of the commonly prescribed anti-diabetic drugs; however, its effects on cardiac function and metabolism are not yet clear. In this study, the effects of pioglitazone on myocardial TG content and cardiac function were investigated in vivo in diabetic db/db mice using ¹H MRS and MRI, respectively. Our findings show that db/db mice exhibit high myocardial TG content accompanied with the development of diastolic dysfunction, while pioglitazone treatment in an early stage of diabetes normalizes myocardial TG levels and prevents diastolic dysfunction.