Figure 7.

Reversibility of metabolic changes in the RV in PAH. A. Representative images and mean data showing that the increased ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in the right ventricle (RV) on PET scans in monocrotaline (MCT) rats which is reduced by dichloroacetate (DCA) (See Figure 1). Reprinted with permission from ². B. Immunostaining showing that the increased Glut1 expression in RV myocytes in monocrotaline-induced RVH is reduced by chronic oral consumption of the PDK inhibitor, dichloroacetate (DCA). The merge of the staining of Glut1 (green) and dystrophin (red) in RV shows that more Glut1 is expressed at the myocyte membrane in RVH. Reprinted with permission from ². C & D. Representative midventricular transaxial ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET images of a patient with idiopathic pulmonary hypertension before and after the pulmonary vasodilator therapy with epoprostenol for three months. Before the pulmonary vasodilator therapy, the RV FDG accumulation was highly increased (C). After the therapy, the RV FDG accumulation was markedly decreased (D). Reprinted with permission from ⁵⁵.