Identification of energy metabolism remodeling in a rat model of Huntington’s disease using multi-metabolic CEST imaging

Huntington’s disease (HD) is an inherited neurodegenerative disease characterized by motor, cognitive and psychiatric symptoms. As glutamate has been shown to be a potential biomarker of neurodegenerative diseases, we used Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer imaging of glutamate (gluCEST) to map cerebral glutamate distribution in a rat model of HD. Modification of glutamate levels observed at 12 months were preceded by decrease of lactate concentration and reduced glycolytic metabolism measured glucoCEST at 4 months, suggesting early remodeling of energy metabolism during asymptomatic stage.