Purpose  

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of hyperinsulinemia on myocardial and hepatic distribution and metabolism of 14(R,S)-[¹⁸F]fluoro-6-thia-heptadecanoic acid ([¹⁸F]FTHA).

Procedures  

Mitochondrial retention and intracellular lipid incorporation of [¹⁸F]FTHA were compared to that of [¹⁴C]-2-bromopalmitate or [¹⁴C]palmitate during hyperinsulinemic clamp vs. saline infusion in male Wistar rats.

Results  

Mitochondrial ¹⁸F activity was increased in the heart (1.7 ± 0.4 vs. 0.5 ± 0.1% ID/g, P < 0.05), whereas it was reduced in the liver (1.1 ± 0.3 vs. 1.8 ± 0.4% ID/g, P < 0.05) during insulin vs. saline infusion, respectively. Mitochondrial [¹⁴C]-2-bromopalmitate activity was affected by insulin in a similar way in both tissues. The fractional esterification of [¹⁸F]FTHA into triglycerides was impaired compared to [¹⁴C]palmitate in both tissues, and [¹⁸F]FTHA was insensitive to the shift of esterification of fatty acids into complex lipids in response to insulin.

Conclusions  

[¹⁸F]FTHA is sensitive to insulin-induced modifications of free fatty acid oxidative metabolism in rats but is insensitive to changes in nonoxidative fatty acid metabolism.