Feasibility of Pre-clinical Whole-abdomen Deuterium Metabolic Imaging at 3T

Motivation: Most DMI studies have relied on high magnetic field strengths to achieve sufficient sensitivity for detecting metabolism. Goal(s): This study aims to demonstrate the feasibility of DMI at 3T for tracking glucose and lactate metabolism. Approach: Using a 3T Bruker BioSpec system with a 1H/2H dual-tuned quadrature coil. Free induction decay and chemical shift imaging were used to acquire data at multiple time points. Analysis focused on the temporal and spatial distribution of glucose and lactate. Results: The study successfully detected deuterated glucose and lactate. Dynamic analysis revealed a gradual decrease in glucose with a late increase in lactate, consistent with expected pathways. Impact: This study demonstrates whole-mice-abdomen DMI at 3T. Unlike previous work that focused on the brain, this demonstrates the potential in abdominal applications, as well as showing temporal metabolite dynamics.