A new system for the metabolic investigation of the isolated, perfused ratheart

NMR spectroscopy Is an invaluable technique in metabolic investigations of isolated, perfused hearts, Most studies employ global perfusion methods tog ether with an NMR coil that surrounds the heart and thus detects signals fr om its entirety. The present report describes the construction and testing of a novel, two surface-coil probe, in combination with a dual-perfused hea rt preparation, that enables spectra to be collected independently from the two coronary beds of the rat heart., P-31 NMR spectra of perfused rat hear ts in which the septum and right ventricle have been made ischaemic, while the free left ventricular wall is fully perfused, demonstrate the powerful potential of this new system. (C) 2000 Academic Press.