Lactate saturation limits bicarbonate detection in hyperpolarized C-pyruvate MRI of the brain.

Purpose: To investigate the potential effects of [1- C]lactate RF saturation pulses on [ C]bicarbonate detection in hyperpolarized [1- C]pyruvate MRI of the brain.

Methods: Thirteen healthy rats underwent MRI with hyperpolarized [1- C]pyruvate of either the brain (n = 8) or the kidneys, heart, and liver (n = 5). Dynamic, metabolite-selective imaging was used in a cross-over experiment in which [1- C]lactate was excited with either 0° or 90° flip angles. The [ C]bicarbonate SNR and apparent [1- C]pyruvate-to-[ C]bicarbonate conversion (k ) were determined. Furthermore, simulations were performed to identify the SNR optimal flip-angle scheme for detection of [1- C]lactate and [ C]bicarbonate.

Results: In the brain, the [ C]bicarbonate SNR was 64% higher when [1- C]lactate was not excited (5.8 ± 1.5 vs 3.6 ± 1.3; 1.2 to 3.3-point increase; p = 0.0027). The apparent k decreased 25% with [1- C]lactate saturation (0.0047 ± 0.0008 s vs 0.0034 ± 0.0006 s ; 95% confidence interval, 0.0006-0.0019 s increase; p = 0.0049). These effects were not present in the kidneys, heart, or liver. Simulations suggest that the optimal [ C]bicarbonate SNR with a TR of 1 s in the brain is obtained with [ C]bicarbonate, [1- C]lactate, and [1- C]pyruvate flip angles of 60°, 15°, and 10°, respectively.

Conclusions: Radiofrequency saturation pulses on [1- C]lactate limit [ C]bicarbonate detection in the brain specifically, which could be due to shuttling of lactate from astrocytes to neurons. Our results have important implications for experimental design in studies in which [ C]bicarbonate detection is warranted.