What is extracted by normal myocardial cells during the 11C-Palmitate uptake?

Normal myocardial cells extract fatty acids during the uptake of 11C-Palmitate. This tracer specifically resembles palmitic acid, which is a saturated fatty acid that serves as an important energy substrate for cardiac tissue. The heart primarily relies on fatty acids for fuel, especially under aerobic conditions, making fatty acids the predominant source of energy in normal myocardium.

In the context of myocardial metabolism, fatty acids are crucial because they undergo β-oxidation in the mitochondria to produce ATP, which is essential for the heart's contractile function. 11C-Palmitate is introduced into the body, where it mimics the natural uptake process of fatty acids in myocardial cells, allowing for imaging and assessment of myocardial metabolism.

The other substances mentioned — glucose, amino acids, and ketones — do play roles in cardiac metabolism but are not the primary substrates utilized during the uptake of 11C-Palmitate in normal myocardial cells. Instead, glucose is typically used in anaerobic conditions or in metabolic stress, while amino acids are more relevant in specific physiological states, and ketones represent an alternative energy source primarily utilized during periods of prolonged fasting or in certain pathological states.