In Vivo Cardiac 1H MRS, 31P MRS, and MRI in Mouse Models of Increased Fatty Acid Oxidation with and Without Myocardial Lipid Accumulation

Desiree Abdurrachim¹, Jolita Ciapaite¹, Michel van Weeghel², Bart Wessels¹, Klaas Nicolay¹, Sander M. Houten², Jeanine J. Prompers¹

Using a combination of in vivo ¹H MRS, ³¹P MRS, and MRI, we investigated the relative roles of cardiac lipotoxicity and impaired cardiac energetics in the development of cardiac dysfunction, using mouse models of increased fatty acid oxidation with and without myocardial lipid accumulation. In the mouse model with myocardial lipid accumulation, cardiac energy status was normal, whereas in the mouse model without myocardial lipid accumulation, cardiac energy status was reduced. Interestingly, in both mouse models, a similar degree of cardiac dysfunction was observed, suggesting that myocardial lipid accumulation and disturbances in cardiac energetics independently contribute to reduced cardiac performance.