Fast volumetric imaging of ethanol metabolism in rat liver with hyperpolarized [1-(13) C]pyruvate

Rapid volumetric imaging of hyperpolarized (13) C compounds allows the real-time measurement of metabolic activity and can be useful in distinguishing between normal and diseased tissues. This work extends a fast two-dimensional undersampled spiral MRSI sequence to provide volumetric coverage, acquiring a 16 × 16 × 12 matrix with a nominal isotropic resolution of 5 mm in 4.5 s. The rapid acquisition enables a high temporal resolution for dynamic imaging. This dynamic three-dimensional MRSI method was used to investigate hyperpolarized [1-(13) C]pyruvate metabolism modulated by the administration of ethanol in rat liver. A significant increase in the pyruvate to lactate conversion was observed in the liver as a result of the greater availability of NADH (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, reduced form) from ethanol metabolism.