Imaging of (13)C-labeled glucose and sorbitol in bovine lens by (1)H-detected (13)C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Bovine lenses were incubated in a solution containing 1-(13)C]glucose (50 mM) for 1, 2 and 4 days. Spectroscopic images of 1-(13)C]glucose and 1-(13)C]sorbitol were constructed using (1)H-detected gradient-enhanced heteronuclear multiple-quantum coherence (GE-HMQC) in a 2.0-tesla magnetic field. Accumulations of 1-(13)C]glucose and 1-(13)C]sorbitol were mainly observed at the periphery of the lens. Their distributions corresponded to the cortex. (1)H-detected (13)C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic imaging by GE-HMQC successfully demonstrated the distribution of 1-(13)C]glucose and 1-(13)C]sorbitol at the periphery of bovine lenses.