Augmented uptake of 2-C-14-v-deoxyglucose in reversibly-injured myocardium

We studied the cardiac uptake of 2-¹⁴C-D-deoxy-glucose (¹⁴C-DG) in 6 dogs subjected to a 15 min left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) occlusion followed by 30 min reflow. Coronary arterial flows during occlusion were determined with⁴⁶Sc microspheres. After 30 min reflow, 50 μCi¹⁴C-DG were given intravenously to determine cardiac uptake. The animal was killed 45 min later and⁴⁶Sc counts/min were determined in gamma and beta counters. Quenching was determined with non radioactive blood for both isotopes in the beta counter. Contribution of⁴⁶Sc counts/min to the¹⁴C channel was subtracted.¹⁴C uptake was in DPM/g and was higher in the cardiac ischemic regions of four of the six dogs. In three of the six animals there was an inverse curvilinear relation between¹⁴C-DG cardiac uptake and occlusion flow. This observation was further confirmed by high resolution autoradiography, indicating that enhanced cardiac uptake of radiolabeled DG may be a useful positron emission tomographic marker for reversible myocardial ischemia.