Hyperpolarized 13C MRI was used to noninvasively detect metabolic changes in a rat model of non-alchoholic steatohepatitis. Rats were fed a methionine- and choline-deficient (MCD) diet for up to 18 weeks. In this preliminary study, we showed a significant increase in fat signal fraction and borderline-signifcant decrease in 13C lactate production in rats fed the MCD diet. Findings in this work suggest that HP 13C pyruvate can be a promising tool to monitor noninvasively the progress of fatty liver disease in patients.
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