We investigated whether changes in myocardial uptake of fatty acid tracer after reperfusion following transient myocardial ischemia were closely related to alterations in intracellular fatty acid oxidation.
Methods: Using a fatty acid tracer of (131)I- and (125)I-labeled 15-(p-iodophenyl)-9-methylpentadecanoic acid (9MPA), the myocardial uptake and metabolites were determined by dual-tracer autoradiography and thin-layer chromatography in rats 3 or 14 d after reperfusion following 5 or 15 min of ischemia induced by coronary artery ligation.
Results: 9MPA metabolites processed via beta-oxidation were lower in the ischemic region (IR) than in non-IR 3 d after 5 min of ischemia, despite no reduction of tracer uptake in IR. Oxidation of 9MPA was recovered 14 d after 15 min of ischemia in association with normalization of tracer uptake in IR, whereas both uptake and oxidation of 9MPA were markedly impaired 3 d after 15 min of ischemia, accompanied by slow clearance of myocardial tracer.
Conclusion: Normal uptake of fatty acid tracer early after reperfusion does not always imply preserved intracellular fatty acid oxidation. However, reduction of tracer uptake might reflect impaired fatty acid oxidation.