Determination of ATP Synthesis Exchange Rates in Human Liver & Skeletal Muscle using 31P Magnetization Transfer

Tania Buehler¹, Andreas Boss¹, Roland Kreis¹, Chris Boesch¹

The metabolic syndrome, which includes insulin resistance (IR), is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases with epidemic dimensions. It is hypothesized that impaired mitochondrial activity could be a cause of IR. ATP synthesis exchange rates determined by ³¹P MRS allow a non-invasive estimation of mitochondrial activity. Several human studies exist for skeletal muscle, but only one for liver. Two methods (³¹P saturation (ST) and inversion transfer (IT)) have been implemented in combination with volume selection based on saturation bands. In this study the two methods for a determination of ATP synthesis exchange rates are compared in skeletal muscle and liver.