Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

T Glonek

Publications and source records attributed to T Glonek.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

31P NMR of Mg-ATP in dilute solutions: complexation and exchange.

1. Monovalent-cation [(CH3)4N+, K(I), Na(I)] ATP, 1 mM in nucleotide, in aqueous solutions at pH 7.2, 24 degrees C, generates 2 different 31P NMR spectra, depending upon the salt content of the solution. At salt concentrations below 10 mM, the 31P NMR signals are chemically-shifted upfield (Na salt: alpha, -11.44 delta; beta, -22.91 delta; gamma, -8.36 delta) and the beta- and gamma-groups are broadened (at half-height: alpha, 3.5 Hz; beta, 9.6 Hz; gamma, 69 Hz). Above 10 mM salt, the signals are shifted downfield and are narrow (Na salt: alpha, -11.09 delta, 1.9 Hz; beta, -21.75 delta, 3.3 Hz; gamma, -6.30 delta, 3.9 Hz). 2. The Na-Mg-ATP complex, corresponding to the composition Na6Mg1ATP2, yields a single set of 31P resonances at concentrations of nucleotide of 100 mM, that upon dilution to 0.2 mM, resolve into 2 sets of ATP resonances characterized by low-field and high-field beta- and gamma-group resonance pairs. This set of ATP resonances, in contrast to the resonance set at 100 mM ATP, are broad (100 mM in ATP: alpha, -10.7 delta, 3.7 Hz; beta, -20.1 delta, 15 Hz; gamma, -5.7 delta, 7.3 Hz. 0.2 mM in ATP: alpha, -10.7 delta, 47 Hz; beta, -18.8 and -21.6 delta, 316 and 274 Hz; gamma, -5.5 and -8.7 delta, 460 and 374 Hz). 3. This new data, in combination with data derived from a survey of metal-ion-ATP studies, are interpreted in terms of ATP dimers, incorporating 2 molecules of ATP and 2 metal cations, that exist in water under the physiological conditions of neutral pH, high salt content [135 mM K(I)] and ATP concentrations in the range of 3 mM. 4. A compilation of 31P in vivo and ex vivo data compared to a reference Mg-ATP chemical shift vs Mg/ATP ratio plot indicates that ATP is not fully Mg-saturated in living systems and that 41% exists as the Mg(ATP)2 complex.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

NMR spectroscopy study of heart phospholipids. An exercise and anabolic steroids effect.

Because 31P NMR spectral analysis of phospholipid (PL) is an accurate and rapid technique for resolving the quantity of PL resonances and involving minimum chemical manipulations that may affect the integrity of the tissue (24-26), we studied the effect of anabolic steroid injection, exercise training, or a combination of both treatments on whole heart phospholipids using 31P NMR spectral analysis. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to 4 groups of 11 each: sedentary control (C), steroid-treated (ST), exercise-trained (E), and exercise plus steroid-treated (ES). The ST and ES rats were administered nandrolone decanoate by i.m. injection every 7-9 d during the 10 wk study, while the C and E rats were injected with glycerol. The exercise rats ran on a treadmill, wearing a collar weight for 50 min/day, 5 days/wk. There was a significant difference in body wt among the four groups at the conclusion of the study; however, no significant differences in heart wt or in the ratio of heart wt:body wt were observed among the four groups. Myocardial phospholipid profiles of the exercise-trained rats were significantly (p less than 0.05) different from those of the untrained rats. The changes were enhanced somewhat by the steroid treatment. The profiles differed in the relative amounts of four of the nine myocardial phospholipids detected: phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), PE plasmalogen, and phosphatidylserine. We conclude that the observed changes in whole heart phospholipid compositions are due to experimental treatment specifically from exhaustive exercise and not from anabolic steroids or cardiac hypertrophy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Phospholipid profiles of human colon cancer using 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Phospholipids of 16 malignant and 11 non-malignant human colon specimens were analyzed using a chloroform-methanol analytical reagent in conjunction with 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) at 202.4 MHz. Sixteen individual generic phospholipids were identified and quantified for statistical intergroup comparisons. Statistically significant elevations in the relative concentrations of lysophosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylcholine plasmalogen were seen in malignant tissues along with significantly depressed levels of sphingomyelin and phosphatidylethanolamine plasmalogen. The malignant and non-malignant tissue groups were further differentiated by the detection of the minor phospholipids, lysophosphatidylcholine plasmalogen, lysophosphatidylethanolamine plasmalogen, lysophosphatidic acid and phosphatidylglycerol exclusively present in the malignant tissues and by significant changes in computed phospholipid metabolic indices that were dominated by choline containing lipids. The 31P MRS methods used represent an advancement over previous protocols for identifying and quantifying major and minor tissue phospholipids making this the first direct study of membrane phospholipids in human colon tissues using 31P MRS. The phospholipid profiles obtained may provide important information regarding the nature of the malignant cell's membrane system and identify markers which may be used to estimate malignant propensity, aggressiveness of disease and provide prognostic information.

Adenocarcinoma↗

The effects of age on phosphatic metabolites of the human crystalline lens.

Paired human lenses ranging from 2 to 96 yr old (n = 17) were harvested within 2 hr post-mortem and immersed in liquid nitrogen. Phosphorus containing metabolites from perchloric acid extracts were quantitated using phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Low-energy metabolites detected include the phosphomonoesters (PME) hexose-6 phosphate, alpha-glycerol phosphate, fructose 1,6-diphosphate, beta-glycerol phosphate (beta-GP), uncharacterized phosphomonoesters at 4.63 delta, 4.34 delta and 3.05 delta, phosphorylethanolamine (PE), inosine and adenosine monophosphates, and phosphorylcholine (PC). Inorganic orthophosphate (Pi), glucose 1-phosphate and glycerol 3-phosphorylcholine were the other low-energy metabolites detected. High-energy metabolites phosphocreatine (PCr), adenosine tri- and di-phosphates (ATP, ADP), nucleoside diphosphorylsugars (NS) and the dinucleotides were also detected. The following metabolic indices were calculated: PCr/Pi, PME/Pi; ATP/Pi, PCr/ATP, ATP/ADP, PE + PC, PC/PE, energy charge, phosphorylation potential, and the energy modulus. A significant linear increase with age (P less than 0.05) occurred only in the uncharacterized resonance at 3.05 delta (r = 0.4593). Significant linear decreases with age (P less than 0.05) occurred in the uncharacterized resonance at 4.63 delta (r = -0.5950), beta-GP (r = -0.5018), PCr (r = -0.4495), N.S. (r = -0.4882). There was a significant (P less than 0.05) linear decrease in the energy modulus (ratio of high-energy to low-energy metabolites).

Adolescent↗

Phosphatic intermediate metabolites of the porcine ocular tunica fibrosa.

This study compares porcine scleral and corneal phosphorylated intermediate metabolites determined using 31P NMR. These tissues comprise the tunica fibrosa (outer coat) of the eye. Since the sclera does not possess epithelia as does the cornea, comparative analysis of these tissues included examination of the cornea with and without its epithelia. The phosphorylated intermediates detected include: dihydroxyacetone phosphate, hexose 6-phosphates, alpha-glycerol phosphate, beta-glycerol phosphate, ethanolamine and choline phosphates, nucleoside mono-, di-, and tri-phosphates, inorganic orthophosphate, glycerol 3-phosphoryl-ethanolamine and -choline, phosphoglycans, phosphocreatine, nucleoside diphosphosugars, dinucleotides, and four uncharacterized (unknown) signals. Metabolic indices, comprised of individual or grouped metabolites, were calculated to further compare and contrast metabolites and to provide more pathway specific metabolic interrelations for phosphorylated metabolites. Significant differences exist between the corneal stroma and the sclera in 16 of the 22 phosphorylated metabolites determined, whereas differences exist between the whole cornea and the sclera in six of the 22 phosphorylated metabolites. Considering all metabolite levels and metabolic indices in aggregate, the sclera is most similar to the whole cornea and least similar to the corneal stroma.

Animals↗

Al-ATP as an intracellular carrier of Al(III) ion.

1. Using 27Al and 31P NMR spectroscopy in conjunction with an Al lactate aqueous reagent at pH 7.2, Al complexes of ATP and of phospholipids were characterized in synthetic-aqueous and organic-phospholipid chemical systems and in the intact human red blood cell. 2. The observed 31P NMR chemical shifts of the Al-ATP complex in aqueous laboratory preparations or the intact human red blood cell were, respectively, alpha phosphate, -11.53 delta; beta phosphate, -22.65 delta; and gamma phosphate, -10.95 delta. 3. The observed complexed 27Al chemical shift was -2.22 delta. 4. The relative affinities for Al of the phospholipids determined from 31P NMR spectroscopic titrations were PA much greater than Cl much greater than PS greater than PG approximately equal to PI greater than PE plus approximately equal to PE much greater than SPH greater than PC.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

31P magnetic resonance phospholipid profiles of neoplastic human breast tissues.

Phospholipids from malignant, benign and noninvolved human breast tissues were extracted by chloroform-methanol (2:1) and analysed by 31P MR spectroscopy at 202.4 MHz. Thirteen phospholipids were identified as constituents of the profiles obtained among the 55 tissue specimens analysed. Observed patterns in phospholipid tissues profiles were distinct, allowing qualitative characterisation of the three tissue groups. Multivariate analysis of lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) and an uncharacterised phospholipid were shown to be independently significant in predicting benign tissue histology as either fibrocystic disease or fibroadenoma in 92% of cases. Univariate analysis of relative mole-percentage of phosphorus concentrations of individual phospholipids using the Scheffé comparison procedure revealed that in malignant tissues, phosphatidylethanolamine was significantly elevated compared to benign (+ 32%) and noninvolved tissues (+ 22%). Phosphatidylinositol (+ 33%) and phosphatidylcholine plasmalogen (PC plas) (+ 25%) were increased in malignant compared to benign and LPC was decreased (-44%) in malignant compared to noninvolved. LPC was significantly depressed (-39%) in benign tissue compared to normal. Phospholipid indices computed to further characterise the three tissue groups showed PC plas/PC elevated in malignant tissue compared to benign and PE plas/PE depressed in malignant tissue compared to noninvolved. These findings support previous investigations reporting that the alkyl-phospholipid analogues of phosphatidylcholine are released by malignant tissues and that levels of ethanolamine are elevated in malignant tissues. Indices describing the choline-containing phospholipids showed that these lipids are depressed significantly in malignant tissue relative to healthy tissue.

Breast↗

Phosphatic metabolism and corneal edema.

From three groups of patients with corneal edema, the degree of edema was clinically quantified prior to penetrating keratoplasty. Corneas from patients with failed grafts (n = 16) had the greatest edema (mean score 3.8 +/- 0.6 SE), corneas with Fuchs' endothelial dystrophy (n = 12) had the least edema (1.4 +/- 0.4), and corneas with aphakic and pseudophakic bullous keratopathy (n = 40) had intermediate edema (2.7 +/- 0.5). Phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to quantitate five high-energy phosphates and nine low-energy phosphates and calculate 12 metabolic indices from the specimens of these three edematous groups. Corneas with aphakic and pseudophakic bullous keratopathy had lower alpha-glycerophosphate (alpha-GP) and glycerol 3-phosphorylethanolamine and glycerol 3-phosphorylcholine (GPE & GPC), and higher phosphocreatine (PCr), adenosine diphosphate (ADP), monoesters/diesters, PCr/Pi (phosphocreatine/inorganic orthophosphate), and PCr/ATP (phosphocreatine/adenosine triphosphate) than corneas with Fuchs' endothelial dystrophy (p less than 0.05). Corneas from failed grafts had lower alpha-GP, ethanolamine phosphate (EP), ethanolamine phosphate and choline phosphate (EP&CP), monoesters/Pi, ATP/Pi, and energy modulus, no detectable GPE and GPC, and higher Pi, phosphorylglycans (PG), PCr, ADP, diesters, PCr/Pi, and PCr/ATP than those with Fuchs' endothelial dystrophy (p less than 0.05). Corneas from failed grafts had lower ATP, monoesters/Pi, ATP/Pi, PCr/Pi, and energy modulus and higher Pi, PG, ADP, diesters, and PCr/ATP than corneas with aphakic and pseudophakic bullous keratopathy (p less than 0.05). In summary, there was increasing decline in the high-energy metabolites and energy status with increasing edema.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Clinical magnetic resonance spectroscopy of human breast disease.

Using image-guided volume-selection techniques, in vivo phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopic profiles were obtained from 12 patients with malignant breast tumors, six patients with benign breast tumors, and nine volunteers with no underlying pathologic condition. Phosphatic metabolites identified in the spectral profiles included the phosphomonoesters (PME), inorganic phosphate (Pi), phosphodiesters (PDE), phosphorylated glycans (PG), phosphocreatine (PCr) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Based on the results of previous high-resolution ex vivo 31P MR spectroscopic analyses of breast tissues, the resonance of PG was identified in malignant and benign breast tumors. Malignant tumors were found to have a significantly (P less than .05) lower concentration of (PME + Pi) than normal breast parenchyma, and were distinguishable from both benign tumors and normal breast parenchymal tissue by significantly (P less than .01) elevated levels of (PDE + PG). 31P MR spectroscopy is the first technique potentially capable of differentiating among malignant breast tumors, benign breast tumors, and normal breast parenchymal tissues based on their in vivo phosphatic metabolic profiles.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Comparison of phosphate metabolites of the ocular humors.

Ocular humors (aqueous humor and vitreous body) were obtained from porcine eyes. Perchloric acid extracts were prepared from aqueous and vitreous aspirates, and phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy 31P-NMR performed. Resonance signals from four high-energy phosphate groups (phosphocreatine, adenosine tri- and diphosphate and the dinucleotides) and nine low-energy phosphate groups [dihydroxyacetone phosphate, hexose-6-phosphate, alpha-glycerophosphate, fructose-1,6-diphosphate, ethanolamine phosphate, choline phosphate, inorganic orthophosphate (Pi), glycerol-3-phosphorylethanolamine and glycerol-3-phosphorylcholine] were present in the aqueous humor and/or vitreous body. Vitreous body phosphates significantly elevated relative to that of the aqueous humor were: DHAP, Hex 6-P, alpha-GP, Fru 1,6-diP, CP, GPE, PCr, ATP, ADP, and the dinucleotides; only Pi was significantly lower. Six metabolic indices (monoesters, diesters, monoesters/diesters, monoesters/Pi, ATP/Pi, energy modulus) were determined; all vitreous body indices were significantly higher than those of the aqueous humor. In particular, the energy modulus, a measure of overall metabolic energy status, was higher in the vitreous body (0.121 +/- 0.047) than in the aqueous humor (0.05 +/- 0.021).

Animals↗

Human crystalline lens phospholipid analysis with age.

Paired human crystalline lenses (n = 21, patient ages 20-79 years) were extracted for lipids with chloroform-methanol 2:1, using the Folch method. The extracted crude lipids were analyzed at 202.4 MHz by phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P NMR). Fourteen membrane phospholipids were detected including phosphatidylcholine (PC), lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), phosphatidylcholine plasmalogen (PC plas), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylethanolamine plasmalogen, lysophosphatidylethanolamine (PA), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), lysophosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylserine (PS), phosphatidic acid, phosphatidylinositol, sphingomyelin (SPH), and two uncharacterized phospholipids. The uncharacterized phospholipid at 0.13 was the predominant phospholipid, comprising 43.20% of the lens phospholipid profile. A decrease in mole percent of phosphorus concentrations of PE, PC plas, and PC and an increase in SPH correlated with age. The following computed indices decreased with age: PC/PG and PE/PS; PC + PE; (PC + PC plas); and PC/PS. The following computed indices increased with age: (PC + SPH)/(PE + PS), SPH/PG, (PC + SPH)/(PE + PS), LPC/PC, LPE/PE, SPH/PE, and SPH/PC. Changes in membrane phospholipids of the crystalline lens with age as detected by 31P NMR can be used to fingerprint lens maturation.

Adult↗

Membrane phospholipids of the ocular tunica fibrosa.

The authors compared porcine corneal and scleral membrane phospholipids determined with use of 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). These tissues make up the tunica fibrosa (outer coat) of the eye. Since the sclera, unlike the cornea, does not possess an epithelium or an endothelium, comparative analysis of these tissues included examination of the cornea with and without its epithelium and endothelium. The phospholipids quantified include: phosphatidylcholine, lysophosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylcholine plasmalogen, phosphatidylethanolamine, lysophosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylethanolamine plasmalogen, phosphatidylserine, sphingomyelin, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylglycerol, cardiolipin, and an uncharacterized phosphatide that accounts for 1.5%-3.5% of the detected phospholipids. Metabolic indices, comprised of individual or grouped metabolites, were calculated to further compare and contrast metabolites and to provide pathway-specific metabolic interrelations for each set of phospholipids from cornea and sclera. Significant differences exist between the corneal stroma and the sclera in 9 of the 12 phospholipids, whereas differences exist between the whole cornea and the sclera in 7 of the 12 phospholipids.

Animals↗

31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy of human colon cancer.

Phosphatic metabolite profiles of 19 malignant and normal human colon specimens were analyzed by techniques of perchloric acid extraction and 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy at 202.4 MHz. Thirty-one individual phosphorus-containing intermediates of metabolism were identified and quantified for statistical intergroup comparisons. Elevations in relative concentrations of phosphorylethanolamine, IMP, NADP 2'-P, an uncharacterized resonance at 3.72 delta, glycerol 3-phosphorylcholine, phosphorylated glycans and the nucleoside diphosphosugars were seen in malignant tissues concurrently with reductions in relative concentrations of phosphorylcholine, phosphocreatine (PCr), and ATP. The malignant and normal tissue groups were further characterized and contrasted by computing metabolic indices from spectral data. Significant elevations in phosphomonoesters, glycerolphosphodiesters, the ratio of phosphorylethanolamine/phosphorylcholine, and phosphomonoesters/inorganic orthophosphate were detected in malignant tissues along with significant reductions in the ratios of PCr/inorganic orthophosphate, PCr/ATP, the energy charge of the adenylate system and the tissue energy modulus. These results revealed significant alterations in high energy metabolism, low energy metabolism, and membrane metabolism characteristic of malignant tissues. The reduction in high energy phosphates ATP and PCr was balanced by the net increase in nucleoside diphosphosugar and a shift in equilibrium to metabolism involving low energy phosphomonoesters. The spectral data of the tumors, which were of epithelial origin, demonstrated minor metabolites not previously detected in tissue extract analysis of malignant tissues. Detection of these minor metabolites represents an indirect measurement of phospholipid metabolism in malignant tissues.

Cell Membrane↗

Comparison of membrane phospholipids of the rabbit and pig crystalline lens.

Crystalline lenses excised from 5-7-month-old rabbits and pigs were extracted for lipids with chloroform/methanol, 2/1 using the Folch method. The extracted crude lipids were analyzed at 202 MHz by 31P-NMR spectroscopy. Twelve membrane phospholipids were detected. Both rabbit and pig phospholipid profiles contained phosphatidylcholine (PC), lysophosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylcholine plasmalogen, phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylethanolamine plasmalogen (PE plas), phosphatidylserine, sphingomyelin (SPH), and an uncharacterized phospholipid. In addition, pig lens profiles contained lysophosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, cardiolipin and phosphatidylglycerol. The data indicate that these two animal models have significant differences in membrane phospholipid profiles. In each species, however, the bulk phospholipid component resides in the neutral phospholipids PC, PE, PE plas, and SPH.

Animals↗

Intralenticular water interactions with phosphates in the intact crystalline lens.

Since the ATP molecule is associated with the intracellular milieu, which consists mainly of water, this study suggests an intimate intracellular association with water molecules. Intact canine crystalline lenses (n = 6) were incubated at 37 degrees C in a buffer containing a pure D2O solvent and examined by [31P]-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Control lenses (n = 6) from contralateral eyes were incubated in a pure H2O-based buffer. During the first 4 h of a 24-hour incubation, the D2O-incubated lens maintained its phosphorus metabolic profile, indicating that the tissue maintains its metabolic health. During this period, however, the spectral signal widths of ATP narrowed progressively. Spectral-simulation analysis of ATP alpha-, beta- and gamma-phosphate signals revealed that the gamma-phosphate signal was narrowed significantly in contrast to the alpha-phosphate signal. Such differential signal narrowing within a single NMR spectrum indicates that the principal intracellular site of water hydrogen binding to the ATP molecule is at the gamma-group phosphate.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

P-31 NMR analysis of phospholipids from cultured human corneal epithelial, fibroblast and endothelial cells.

Corneal epithelial, fibroblast and endothelial cells, cultured from human donors, were analyzed to determine their characteristic phospholipid profiles by 31P NMR. Tissue phospholipid profiles from epithelial, fibroblast and endothelial cell cultures were evaluated to differentiate the individual cell types and to identify resonances that typically appear in high-resolution phospholipid profiles of whole corneas. Phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine plasmalogen, an uncharacterized phospholipid at 0.13 delta, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylserine and sphingomyelin were determined to be, in decreasing order of concentration, the major phospholipids detected in these three cultured corneal cell types. Indices of phospholipid metabolism representing total plasmalogen content, total choline-containing lipids and the total choline-containing lipids less those synthesized through the plasmalogen pathway were found to differentiate the three cell types. Minor phospholipids cardiolipin, lysophosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) and LPC plasmalogen not usually reported in studies of corneal phospholipids using other techniques, were useful in discriminating between cell types. Phospholipid profiles of the whole cornea provide important information concerning the biochemistry and pathology of the tissue, however, phospholipid analysis of individual components of the cornea, such as the epithelial, fibroblast and endothelial cells, makes it possible to understand the contribution of specific cellular constituents to the spectral information obtained from the whole cornea.

Cells, Cultured↗

31P NMR of phospholipid glycerol phosphodiester residues.

Saponification of extracted tissue phospholipids yields a set of isolated glycerol 3-phosphoryl phospholipid polar headgroups from which semi-quantitative 31P NMR spectra can be obtained. The resonance signals from these molecules, which frequently have been reported as uncharacterized phosphate signals observed in perchloric acid extracts of tissue, can be used as an aid in the characterization of isolated phospholipids and of tissue phospholipid 31P NMR profiles. 31P NMR chemical-shift values of the resonances at pH 7 in water and relative to 85% phosphoric acid are: glycerol 3-phosphocholine (-0.13 delta), glycerol 3-phosphoethanolamine (0.42 delta), glycerol 3-phospho(monomethyl)ethanolamine (0.29 delta), glycerol 3-phospho(dimethyl)ethanolamine (0.16 delta), glycerol 3-phosphoserine (0.14 delta), glycerol 3-phosphoinositol (-0.07 delta), glycerol 3-phosphoglycerol (0.92 delta), bis(glycerol 3-phospho)glycerol (0.79 delta), serine ethanolamine phosphodiester (-0.46 delta), glycerol 3-phosphate (0.60 delta; 4.29 delta at pH 10) glycerol 2-phosphate (0.15 delta; 3.92 delta at pH 10). In addition, analysis of extracted cancer tissue phospholipid samples yielded a new and uncharacterized polar headgroup fragment with a chemical-shift value of 0.29 delta that is independent of sample pH.

Animals↗

Noninvasive metabolic analysis of eye bank corneas: a magnetic resonance spectroscopic study.

Nondestructive, noninvasive metabolic analysis of corneal donor tissue preserved in modified McCarey-Kaufman medium was achieved using phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31 P MRS). Clear corneas (n = 10) with minimal Descemet's folds and an endothelial cell density of 2990 +/- 166 cells/mm2 from donors aged 26 to 89 years were used. Relative amounts of low- and high-energy phosphatic metabolites were quantitated during a 1-h period using the integral of the 31P spectrum. The following indicators of the tissue's energy status were determined: (1) 31P spectral energy modulus (ratio of high- to low-energy metabolites, average 0.95 +/- 0.14); (2) adenosine triphosphate/inorganic orthophosphate (ATP/Pi) ratio, 1.97 +/- 0.55; (3) sugar phosphate/inorganic orthophosphate (SP/Pi) ratio, average 1.07 +/- 0.12; and (4) intracorneal pH, calculated from the resonance shift position of inorganic orthophosphate, average 7.28 +/- 0.05. The 31P MRS technique measures key corneal metabolic processes (maintenance of the high-energy phosphate complement, interrelationship of inorganic orthophosphate and its bioesters, and pH). This study provides baseline data for eventually determining optimal parameters of eye bank corneal tissues and for evaluating the metabolic status, or health, of the cornea.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗