Manganese-Enhanced MRI in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Cellular uptake of the manganese ion, when administered as a contrast agent for MR imaging, can noninvasively highlight cellular activity and disease processes in both animals and humans. The purpose of this study was to explore the enhancement profile of manganese in patients with multiple sclerosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mangafodipir is a manganese chelate that was clinically approved for MR imaging of liver lesions. We present a case series of 6 adults with multiple sclerosis who were scanned at baseline with gadolinium, then injected with mangafodipir, and followed at variable time points thereafter. RESULTS: Fourteen new lesions formed during or shortly before the study, of which 10 demonstrated manganese enhancement of varying intensity, timing, and spatial pattern. One gadolinium-enhancing extra-axial mass, presumably a meningioma, also demonstrated enhancement with manganese. Most interesting, manganese enhancement was detected in lesions that formed in the days after mangafodipir injection, and this enhancement persisted for several weeks, consistent with contrast coming from intracellular uptake of manganese. Some lesions demonstrated a diffuse pattern of manganese enhancement in an area larger than that of both gadolinium enhancement and T2-FLAIR signal abnormality. CONCLUSIONS: This work demonstrates the first use of a manganese-based contrast agent to enhance MS lesions on MR imaging. Multiple sclerosis lesions were enhanced with a temporal and spatial profile distinct from that of gadolinium. Further experiments are necessary to uncover the mechanism of manganese contrast enhancement as well as cell-specific uptake.

Inotropic and energetic effects of altering the force-calcium relationship: mechanisms, experimental results, and potential molecular targets.

Conventional positive inotropy with beta-adrenergic agonists or phosphodiesterase inhibitors increases the amplitude of the calcium transient and is associated with increases in myocardial oxygen consumption that may not be desirable when used in heart failure. Alternatively, agents that increase the sensitivity of the contractile apparatus without increasing the amplitude of the calcium transient have been shown to increase contractility without increasing energy consumption. Also, agents that result in negative inotropy while maintaining the amplitude of the calcium transient result in more energy-inefficient negative inotropy in comparison with agents that cause negative inotropy though a decrease in the amplitude of the calcium transient. These experiments suggest that calcium handling is responsible for a large proportion of the total energy expenditure associated with changes in inotropy. Problems that remain with the use of calcium-sensitizing agents include uncertainty regarding the site of action, adverse effects on systemic and coronary vasculature and diastolic function, and concomitant phosphodiesterase-inhibiting activity. One alternative is to use genetically engineered mouse models in which specific mutations selective to the myocyte can be produced. Potential molecular targets include the protein kinase A and C phosphorylation sites on troponin I, which, when phosphorylated, mediate a reduction in calcium sensitivity and a reduction in maximal actomyosin adenosinetriphosphatase activity, respectively. Mutations at these sites, by altering the relationship between force and calcium, may provide significant insights into the molecular mechanisms controlling the energetics of positive inotropy.

NMR-Observed phosphate trafficking and polyphosphate dynamics in wild-type and vph1-1 mutant Saccharomyces cerevisae in response to stresses.

The phosphagenic, osmotic, and metabolic roles of polyphosphate in chemostat-cultivated yeast were investigated with a new NMR cultivator. Wild-type yeast and a vacuolar vph1-1 mutant, which lacks polyphosphate, were subjected to different stimuli. Starved wild-type yeast exclusively directed phosphate to vacuoles despite other competing sinks. After DNP or iodoacetate exposure, which significantly affected cytosolic pH or ATP metabolism, polyphosphate hydrolysis did not occur, which casts doubt on the phosphagen function of vacuolar polyphosphate. It took about 1 h for Mn2+ to traffic to vacuoles, and some evidence was obtained for polyphosphate responding to osmotic challenges. Fast NMR scans show that rapid polyphosphate hydrolysis to small polymers follows alkalinization. The small polymers then degrade to orthophosphate, which coincides with sugar phosphates increasing and subsequent reacidification. In contrast, when vph1-1 mutants were subjected to alkalinization, the absence of a vacuolar source of phosphate slowed reacidification. Based on known yeast physiology and observed sugar phosphate dynamics, polyphosphate degradation may enable rapid glycogen mobilization to glycolysis for considerable acid and ATP production. Overall, maintaining both polyphosphate and carbohydrate reserves may endow yeast with the ability to rapidly manage the extracellular environment.

Creatine and cyclocreatine treatment of human colon adenocarcinoma xenografts: 31P and 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopic studies.

Creatine (Cr) and cyclocreatine (cyCr) have been shown to inhibit the growth of a variety of human and murine tumours. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the anti-tumour effect of these molecules in relation to drug accumulation, energy metabolism, tumour water accumulation and toxicity. Nude mice carrying a human colon adenocarcinoma (LS174T) with a creatine kinase (CK) activity of 2.12 units mg(-1) protein were fed Cr (2.5% or 5%) or cyCr (0.025%, 0.1% or 0.5%) for 2 weeks and compared with controls fed standard diet. Cr concentrations of 2.5% and 5% significantly inhibited tumour growth, as did 0.1% and 0.5% cyCr. In vivo 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) after 2 weeks of treatment showed an increase in [phosphocreatine (PCr)+phosphocyclocreatine (PcyCr)]/nucleoside triphosphate (NTP) with increasing concentrations of dietary Cr and cyCr, without changes in absolute NTP contents. The antiproliferative effect of the substrates of CK was not related to energy deficiency but was associated with acidosis. Intratumoral substrate concentrations (measured by 1H-MRS) of 4.8 micromol g(-1) wet weight Cr (mice fed 2.5% Cr) and 6.2 micromol g(-1) cyCr (mice fed 0.1% cyCr) induced a similar decrease in growth rate, indicating that both substrates were equally potent in tumour growth inhibition. The best correlant of growth inhibition was the total Cr or (cyCr+Cr) concentrations in the tissue. In vivo, these agents did not induce excessive water accumulation and had no systemic effects on the mice (weight loss, hypoglycaemia) that may have caused growth inhibition.

Dilated cardiomyopathy in transgenic mice with cardiac-specific overexpression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha.

The failing human heart expresses tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). However, its pathophysiological significance is not clear. We previously reported that robust overexpression of TNF-alpha in the murine heart causes lethal myocarditis. In this study, we modified the transgene to reduce the production of TNF-alpha by preserving the destabilizing sequence in TNF-alpha cDNA. Expression was driven by the murine alpha-myosin heavy chain promoter. Use of this modified construct allowed to the establish a mutine transgenic line (TG). TG offspring were examined at 6, 12, and 24 weeks. All showed a significantly higher heart weight-to-body weight ratio. Northern blot analysis confirmed the expression of transgene in the heart, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay demonstrated the presence of TNF-alpha protein. The TG heart demonstrated a mild, diffuse, lymphohistiocytic interstitial inflammatory infiltrate. Cardiomyocyte necrosis and apoptosis were present but not abundant. Magnetic resonance imaging showed that the TG heart was significantly dilated with reduced ejection fraction. Although the left ventricular dP/dtmax was not different at baseline, its responsiveness to isoproterenol was significantly blunted in TG. Atrial natriuretic factor was expressed in the TG ventricle. A group of TG died spontaneously, and subsequent autopsies revealed exceptional dilation of the heart, increased lung weight, and pleural effusion, suggesting that they died of congestive heart failure. The cumulative mortality rate at 6 months was 23%. In conclusion, the mouse overexpressing TNF-alpha recapitulated the phenotype of congestive heart failure. This provides a novel model to elucidate the role of this cytokine in the development of congestive heart failure.

Differential effects of creatine kinase isoenzymes and substrates on regeneration in livers of transgenic mice.

Creatine kinase (CK) has been implicated in affecting cell growth, and the CK substrates creatine (Cr) and cyclocreatine (CyCr) have been shown to have anti-tumor activity. The influence of Cr and CyCr on liver regeneration following major hepatectomy was evaluated in normal and transgenic mice expressing the human ubiquitous mitochondrial isoform of CK (CK-mit) or the brain isoform of CK (CK-B) or livers expressing both CK-mit and CK-B (CK-comb). Expression of CK isoenzymes had little effect on liver regeneration in the absence of dietary supplementation with Cr or CyCr as assayed by the increase in liver mass. Dietary supplementation with Cr and CyCr significantly reduced liver growth in normal mice. Liver regeneration was almost completely inhibited in mice expressing CK-mit in the presence of Cr. Livers expressing CK-mit regenerated better than normal livers in the presence of CyCr. In mice expressing CK-B, Cr and CyCr had opposite effects from those found in CK-mit mice. In the presence of CyCr, regeneration was inhibited in livers expressing CK-B, and, in the presence of Cr, CK-B-expressing livers regenerated better than normal livers. The amount of DNA synthesized 2 days after hepatectomy confirmed the results obtained from measurements of liver mass for all groups. Growth and DNA synthesis were completely abolished by Cr in CK-mit mice, whereas CyCr mainly affected growth 2 days after hepatectomy in CK-B-expressing mice. Coexpression of the CK isoforms in CK-comb mice ameliorated the effects detected with either isoform alone. Inhibition of growth by Cr and CyCr was not correlated to water accumulation. These results clearly demonstrate isoenzyme and substrate-specific effects of CK on cell growth.

Combined myofibrillar and mitochondrial creatine kinase deficiency impairs mouse diaphragm isotonic function.

Creatine kinase (CK) is an enzyme central to cellular high-energy phosphate metabolism in muscle. To characterize the physiological role of CK in respiratory muscle during dynamic contractions, we compared the force-velocity relationships, power, and work output characteristics of the diaphragm (Dia) from mice with combined myofibrillar and sarcomeric mitochondrial CK deficiency (CK[-/-]) with CK-sufficient controls (Ctl). Maximum velocity of shortening was significantly lower in CK[-/-] Dia (14.1 +/- 0.9 Lo/s, where Lo is optimal fiber length) compared with Ctl Dia (17.5 +/- 1.1 Lo/s) (P < 0.01). Maximum power was obtained at 0.4-0.5 tetanic force in both groups; absolute maximum power (2,293 +/- 138 W/m2) and work (201 +/- 9 J/m2) were lower in CK[-/-] Dia compared with Ctl Dia (2,744 +/- 146 W/m2 and 284 +/- 26 J/m2, respectively) (P < 0.05). The ability of CK[-/-] Dia to sustain shortening during repetitive isotonic activation (75 Hz, 330-ms duration repeated each second at 0.4 tetanic force load) was markedly impaired, with CK[-/-] Dia power and work declining to zero by 37 +/- 4 s, compared with 61 +/- 5 s in Ctl Dia. We conclude that combined myofibrillar and sarcomeric mitochondrial CK deficiency profoundly impairs Dia power and work output, underscoring the functional importance of CK during dynamic contractions in skeletal muscle.

In situ 31P nuclear magnetic resonance for observation of polyphosphate and catabolite responses of chemostat-cultivated Saccharomyces cerevisiae after alkalinization.

The proposed pH buffering and phosphagenic functions of polyphosphate were investigated by subjecting chemostat-cultivated Saccharomyces cerevisiae to alkalinization (NaOH addition) and anaerobiosis. The subsequent changes in intracellular phosphate-containing species were observed in situ by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy by using the NMR cultivator we developed. For the alkalinization experiments, changes in catabolite secretion were also measured in parallel experiments. Additionally, a range of potential neutralization capacity was investigated: a dilute culture and concentrated cultures with low or high polyphosphate content. The concentrated cultures displayed increased cytosolic pH and rapid polyphosphate degradation to small chains. The pH changes and extent of polyphosphate degradation depended inversely on initial polyphosphate content. The dilute culture restored extracellular pH rapidly and secreted acetate. The concentrated culture with low polyphosphate reserves also secreted acetate. In contrast to the alkalinization-induced polyphosphate dynamics, anaerobiosis resulted in the complete hydrolysis of polyphosphate to P(i), as opposed to small chains, and reduced cytosolic pH. The results and calculations suggest that the bulk of NMR-observable polyphosphate (vacuolar) degradation to short polymers conceivably contributes to neutralizing added alkalinity. In other circumstances, such as anaerobiosis, degradation serves other functions, such as phosphorylation potential regulation.

Phosphocreatine protects transgenic mouse liver expressing creatine kinase from hypoxia and ischemia.

Creatine kinase (CK) is normally found at high levels in muscle and brain and catalyzes the reaction phosphocreatine (PCr) + MgADP + H+<==>creatine (Cr) + MgATP. CK is not normally found at high levels in liver. A line of transgenic mice that express high levels of the BB-dimer of CK (CKB) in liver has allowed us to assess the role of CKB during periods of low oxygen stress. During 40 min of ischemia of normal perfused livers at 25 degrees C, ATP levels are depleted, and pH decreases to 6.6. pH recovers to a preischemic level after 30 min of reperfusion of normal livers; however, P(i) levels are significantly higher and ATP levels significantly lower than preischemic values. In transgenic liver with an initial PCr-to-ATP ratio of 4.5, ATP levels are maintained until PCr is markedly depleted. pH remains at preischemic levels for 16 min of ischemia of transgenic livers. During this length of ischemia in normal livers, pH has dropped to 6.9. pH, P(i), and ATP levels return to preischemic values within 30 min of reperfusion in transgenic livers containing PCr and CK. During 90 min of hypoxia of normal perfused livers at 37 degrees C, ATP is depleted. After 15 min of hypoxia of normal livers, there is a significant increase in the release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). In transgenic livers, ATP is maintained, and no increase in LDH release is observed for up to 90 min, depending on the level of PCr before hypoxia. These results demonstrate the role of CKB in buffering ATP levels and regulating intracellular pH during periods of low oxygen stress.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Role of oxygen vs. glucose in energy metabolism in a mammary carcinoma perfused ex vivo: direct measurement by 31P NMR.

The role of glycolysis vs. respiration in tumor energy metabolism has been studied, to date, primarily in vitro by using single cells, multicellular spheroids, or tissue slices. With the advent of in vivo NMR spectroscopy, several investigators have shown that tumor energy status depends on its blood flow. Since manipulation of blood flow alters both oxygen and glucose delivery to a solid tumor, these studies have not been able to separate the relative contribution of oxygen vs. glucose in energy metabolism in vivo. In the present study, we have overcome this problem by combining two methods: the tissue-isolated R3230AC mammary adenocarcinoma perfused ex vivo and 31P NMR spectroscopy. The isolated tumor permits one to control the perfusion pressure as well as the metabolite concentrations in the perfusate. NMR spectroscopy permits one to measure the ratio of nucleoside triphosphate to inorganic phosphate (NTP/Pi) and pH. Our results show that (i) the NTP/Pi ratio ex vivo is similar to that observed in vivo prior to surgery, (ii) the NTP/Pi ratio is insensitive to flow changes at high flow rates but is proportional to flow rate at flows comparable to those found in vivo, (iii) the NTP/Pi ratio of these tumors is resistant to hypoxia and is not maintained when glucose is removed or replaced with glutamine, and (iv) although both O2 and glucose are consumed by these tumors, the effect of perfusate flow rate appears to be mediated largely through glucose delivery. The current approach not only provides information about the role of glycolysis vs. respiration in a rodent tumor but also is general and versatile enough to provide similar data in human tumors perfused ex vivo.

Response of normal and reperfused livers to glucagon stimulation: NMR detection of blood flow and high-energy phosphates.

The effects of glucagon on blood flow and high-energy phosphates in control and in rat livers damaged by ischemia were studied using in vivo nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Normal livers and livers which had been made ischemic for 20, 40, and 60 min followed by 60 min of reperfusion were studied. Ischemia led to a loss in adenosine triphosphate (ATP) within 30 min. Reperfusion after 20 min of ischemia led to complete recovery of ATP. 60 min of reperfusion after 40 or 60 min of ischemia led to only a 76% and 48% recovery of ATP, respectively. Glucagon, at doses up to 2.5 mg/kg body weight, caused no changes in the inorganic phosphate (P(i)) to ATP ratio in normal livers as measured by 31P-NMR spectroscopy. In livers which had been made ischemic for 20, 40, or 60 min, glucagon caused an increase in the P(i)/ATP ratio of 18%, 40%, and 40%, respectively. 19F-NMR detection of the washout of trifluoromethane from liver was used to measure blood flow. Glucagon-stimulated flow in the normal liver in a dose-dependent manner, with 2.5 mg glucagon/kg body weight leading to a 95% increase in flow. Ischemia for 20, 40, and 60 min followed by 60 min of reperfusion led to hepatic blood flows which were 63%, 68%, and 58% lower than control liver. In reperfused livers, blood flow after glucagon-stimulation was reduced to 56%, 43%, and 48% of control glucagon-stimulated flow after 20, 40, and 60 min of ischemia. These results indicate that ischemia followed by reperfusion leads to decreases in hepatic blood flow prior to alterations in ATP and the response of the liver to glucagon is altered in the reperfused liver.

2H-nuclear magnetic resonance imaging of tumor blood flow: spatial and temporal heterogeneity in a tissue-isolated mammary adenocarcinoma.

2H-Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging of deuteron accumulation in tissue following an i.v. bolus of deuterium oxide provides a noninvasive means of constructing maps of tissue perfusion. With a measured arterial input function and a simple model for tissue-capillary exchange, these data can provide quantitative estimates of local flow. This technique was tested in rat brain and then applied to the study of spatial heterogeneity and temporal variation of blood flow in the tissue-isolated R3230AC mammary adenocarcinoma. Global flow from the brain averaged 0.96 ml/min.g, in good agreement with results obtained from other methods; the perfusion of brain was relatively homogeneous. Global tumor blood flow averaged 0.32 ml/min.g, ranging from 0.11 to 0.96 ml/min.g. Imaging revealed variations in perfusion both within and between the tumors that far exceeded those expected from brain flow heterogeneity and uncertainty in the flow estimates. By obtaining repeated flow images at 30-min intervals, it was possible to show that the regional blood flow shifted with time in single pixels and in multipixel regions. These experiments show that 2H-nuclear magnetic resonance may be useful in obtaining noninvasive and quantitative measurement of temporal blood flow changes in a solid tumor in vivo.

The role of magnesium in postischemic cardiac dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: The biochemical basis for postischemic myocardial stunning is not fully elucidated. Magnesium is an important regulator of cellular energetic processes and excitation-contraction coupling. We hypothesized that the decrease in function in the postischemic period may be the result of an alteration in magnesium regulation. METHODS: In a Langendorf perfused rabbit heart model, we used 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to noninvasively determine intracellular Mg2+ and high-energy phosphate levels in the preischemic period and after a 30-minute period of normothermic ischemia. We measured adenosine triphosphate (ATP), phosphocreatine, and the phosphocreatine/inorganic phosphate ratio and calculated the free energy of ATP hydrolysis (delta GATP). On reperfusion, hearts were divided into three groups (n = 7 per group)--those receiving unmodified Krebs-Henseleit (control), 192 ng/ml dobutamine, or 5 mmol/L pyruvate. RESULTS: Function (expressed as the rate-pressure product) was approximately 77% of preischemic values in the control group, whereas in both dobutamine and pyruvate groups it returned to preischemic levels. ATP was decreased similarly in all groups in the postischemic period. Phosphocreatine/inorganic phosphate ratio and delta GATP were higher in the pyruvate group compared with the other groups. Intracellular Mg2+ was elevated significantly in the unmodified control postischemic group compared with preischemic, postischemic dobutamine, and pyruvate groups (1.0 +/- 0.12 vs 0.80 +/- 0.08, 0.64 +/- 0.08, and 0.70 +/- 0.05 mmol/L, respectively; p less than 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that (1) postischemic "stunned" hearts have elevated Mg2+ levels in association with impaired contractile function, (2) inotropic agents improve contractile function in association with a decline in Mg2+ to preischemic levels despite differing effects on intracellular energetics, and (3) Mg2+ may play an important regulatory role in the heart after ischemia.

Investigation of cell physiology in the animal using transgenic technology.

Over the past 10 years significant progress has been made in techniques for manipulating the genome of the animal. Production of transgenic mice has led to important insights into the regulation of gene expression, the molecular basis of cancer, immunology, and developmental biology. The tools necessary to generate transgenic mice are becoming widely available, making it possible to study a variety of problems. In this review a description of the strategies being used to address problems of interest in cell physiology using transgenic mice is given. Elucidation of the rules governing the regulation of gene expression now permits the targeted expression of a protein to a particular organ or cell type within an organ. Overexpression of proteins, expression of foreign or mutant proteins, mislocalization of proteins, and directed elimination of proteins are all procedures that can now be used to generate interesting animal models for physiological studies. The applications of these techniques to a variety of problems in normal and abnormal physiology are discussed in this review.

Phosphocreatine protects ATP from a fructose load in transgenic mouse liver expressing creatine kinase.

The effects of an intraperitoneal dose of fructose on hepatic metabolism in transgenic mice expressing creatine kinase in liver were investigated using phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance (31P-NMR). Transgenic mice were fed diets containing varying amounts of creatine (Cr; 0-12%). It has previously been shown that 31P-NMR spectra of transgenic mice have a peak due to phosphocreatine (PCr), the intensity of which was proportional to the amount of Cr in the diet. No PCr peak was detected in control mice or transgenic mice not fed Cr. In the present study NMR spectra were collected before and for a 1-h recovery period after infusion of 0.15 mmol/10 g body wt fructose. In all mice infusion of fructose resulted in a two- to threefold elevation of phosphomonoesters. In control and non-Cr-fed transgenic mice this was accompanied by a 60% reduction of the inorganic phosphate (Pi) and a 50% fall in ATP. In transgenic mice fed Cr, the extent of reduction of Pi was dependent on the level of PCr and was markedly reduced compared with controls. Falls in Pi of 46, 24, and 6% were detected 12.5 min after fructose infusion in low, intermediate, and high PCr-containing livers, respectively. The presence of PCr also protected hepatic ATP levels from a fructose load. Transgenic mice fed on high or intermediate Cr diets showed no significant loss of ATP. However, livers with low levels of PCr lost ATP during a fructose challenge. From the equilibrium established by creatine kinase, free ADP levels were calculated throughout the fructose dose. Fructose caused a 2.5-fold increase in free ADP. This rise in ADP was independent of the total Cr or whether Pi and ATP were reduced by fructose infusion. These results indicate that an increase in ADP is not sufficient to cause depletion of ATP during a fructose challenge.

Free ADP levels in transgenic mouse liver expressing creatine kinase. Effects of enzyme activity, phosphagen type, and substrate concentration.

ADP is an important regulator of hepatic metabolism. Despite its importance the level of free ADP in the liver remains controversial. Recently, we engineered transgenic mice which express high levels of creatine kinase in liver. The reaction catalyzed by creatine kinase was assumed to be at equilibrium and used to calculate a free ADP level of 0.059 mumol/g wet weight. In this report we test the equilibrium assumption by studying the free ADP level as a function of enzyme activity or substrate content. Over a 5-fold range of creatine kinase activity, from 150-800 mumol/min/g wet weight, there was no change in the free ADP level. The average value of ADP for these mice was 0.061 +/- 0.016 mumol/g wet weight. Similarly, altering hepatic creatine content from 1.6 to 30 mumol/g wet weight had no effect on the calculated total free ADP level. The average value of ADP for the creatine levels was 0.048 +/- 0.015 mumol/g wet weight. Finally, the free ADP level was calculated using the equilibrium with cyclocreatine rather than creatine as substrate. The equilibrium of the reaction with cyclocreatine lies 30 times more toward phosphorylation than does the equilibrium with creatine. A free ADP level of 0.063 +/- 0.031 mumol/g wet weight was calculated using cyclocreatine. This value is not different from that found with creatine. These results show that the equilibrium assumption used to calculate free ADP levels in transgenic mouse liver is valid, and the presence of creatine kinase does not affect ADP levels.

Absence of pH changes during altered work in the in vivo sheep heart: a 31P-NMR investigation.

Saturation transfer from gamma-ATP to inorganic phosphate was used to assign the intracellular inorganic phosphate resonance of the phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum of heart obtained from adult sheep under Halothane anesthesia. The 31P chemical shift of intracellular inorganic phosphate was then used as a probe of myocardial pH. Resting myocardial pH was found to be 7.03 +/- 0.02. The effects of increasing myocardial work on myocardial pH were examined using external pacing and phenylephrine infusion alone or in combination to produce steady-state increases in the rate-pressure product. No alteration in myocardial pH was observed with up to 4-fold increases in rate-pressure product. No changes in high-energy phosphates were observed except at the highest rate-pressure products obtained, where small increases in inorganic phosphate and decreases in the phosphocreatine/ATP ratio were observed. In addition, the transition to a new steady state was studied with a 20-s time resolution after initiation of pacing. Again, no changes in pH or levels of phosphates were detected during the transition to increased work.

NMR detection of creatine kinase expressed in liver of transgenic mice: determination of free ADP levels.

To use the equilibrium established by creatine kinase (CK) to determine hepatic free ADP levels, the transcriptional control elements of the transthyretin gene were used to direct expression of the CK B isozyme to the livers of transgenic mice. Activities of CK ranging from 80-250 mumol per min per g (wet weight) were detected in liver extracts from five founder mice. The CK activity was stably transmitted to subsequent generations. Isozyme gels and immunoblots confirmed that the activity detected in extracts was due to the B isozyme of CK. Immunohistology indicated that the protein was expressed uniformly throughout the liver and was localized primarily to the cytoplasm. 31P NMR spectroscopy was used to detect the metabolic product of the CK reaction, phosphocreatine, demonstrating that the enzyme was active in vivo. The phosphocreatine level fell rapidly during anoxia (t1/2 = 1 min), indicating that the CK reaction was integrated into hepatic energy metabolism. The equilibrium established by CK was used to calculate a hepatic free ADP level of 0.059 +/- 0.004 mumol/g (wet weight). In vivo NMR studies of these mice will be valuable for studying the role of free ADP in regulating liver metabolism.