In Vivo Assessment of β-Hydroxybutyrate Metabolism in Mouse Brain Using Deuterium (2H) Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Impaired neurometabolism is often attributed to altered TCA flux (VTCA). Since, β-hydroxybutyrate metabolism bypasses glycolytic flux, it can be better used to monitor VTCA. In the current study, [3,4,4,4]-2H4-β-hydroxybutyrate was infused in 6-month-old mice, and the level of [4,4]-2H2-Glx was monitored using 2H-MRS. A kinetic model was fitted to determine the rate of BHB metabolism (CMRBHB) and VTCA. Glx labeling followed a sigmoidal curve to reach a quasi-steady state concentration (~1.6±0.1 mM) in 30 minutes. CMRBHB and VTCA were determined to be 0.054±0.004 and 0.12±0.01 µM/g/min. In conclusion, this method can be used to monitor neurometabolism in health and disease.