Very rapid lactate measurement in ischemic perfused hearts using 1H MRS continuous negative echo acquisition during steady-state frequency selective excitation.

Using 1H MRS continuous negative echo acquisition during steady-state frequency selective excitation (CASTLE) myocardial lactate accumulation was followed in a globally ischemic perfused rat heart model. 1H MRS CASTLE derived lactate determinations were verified biochemically and were measured during ischemia and reperfusion (both in the absence and in the presence of a known inhibitor of glycolysis). In addition, using the Bloch equations modified for the effect of diffusion in the presence of a magnetic field gradient the theoretical dependency of measurements made with CASTLE upon T1, T2 and the flip angle alpha were demonstrated. It was found that 1H MRS CASTLE allowed for rapid identification of the lactate -CH3 resonance in an isolated perfused heart with little shimming required, and excellent water and lipid suppression. Measurements of lactate using this technique reflected a true difference in myocardial lactate as evidenced by biochemical analysis and the expected changes in tissue lactate that accompanied reperfusion and ischemia in the presence of a glycolytic inhibitor. Theoretical calculation demonstrated that the dependency of the relative signal intensity obtained with 1H MRS CASTLE was a complex function of T1, T2, and alpha. These calculations also demonstrated the theoretical feasibility of applying 1H MRS CASTLE to localized spectroscopy using a surface coil.