Hyperbaric oxygen therapy reduces renal lactate production

AbstractIntrarenal hypoxia is an acknowledged factor contributing to the developmentof diabetic nephropathy. Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy is a well-knownadjuvant treatment for several medical conditions, such as decompressionsickness, infections, and wound healing. The underlying metabolic response ofHBO is largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the effect of HBO onthe intrarenal metabolic alteration in diabetes. Hyperpolarized [1-13C]pyruvateMRI was performed to assess intrarenal energy metabolism in normoglycemiccontrols and short-term (2 weeks) streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats withand without HBO for five consecutive days. HBO therapy blunted intrarenallactate production, 3 days after the therapy, in both normoglycemic controlsand diabetic rats without affecting either lactate dehydrogenase mRNA expres sion or activity. HBO therapy reduced lactate formation in both normo glycemic and hyperglycemic rats. These findings support hyperpolarized[1-13C]pyruvate MRI as a novel method for monitoring HBO therapy via thepyruvate to lactate conversion.