A new strategy for in vivo spectral editing. Application to GABA editing using selective homonuclear polarization transfer spectroscopy

Neurochemistry Predicts Convergence of Written and Spoken Language: A Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Study of Cross-Modal Language Integration

Recent studies have provided evidence of associations between neurochemistry and reading (dis)ability (Pugh et al., 2014). Based on a long history of studies indicating that fluent reading entails the automatic convergence of the written and spoken forms of language and our recently proposed Neural Noise Hypothesis (Hancock et al., 2017), we hypothesized that individual differences in cross-modal integration would mediate, at least partially, the relationship between neurochemical concentrations and reading. Cross-modal integration was measured in 231 children using a two-alternative forced choice cross-modal matching task with three language conditions (letters, words, and pseudowords) and two levels of difficulty within each language condition. Neurometabolite concentrations of Choline (Cho), Glutamate (Glu), gamma-Aminobutyric (GABA), and N- acetyl-aspartate (NAA) were then measured in a subset of this sample (n = 70) with Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS). A structural equation mediation model revealed that the effect of cross-modal word matching mediated the relationship between increased Glu (which has been proposed to be an index of neural noise) and poorer reading ability. In addition, the effect of cross-modal word matching fully mediated a relationship between increased Cho and poorer reading ability. Multilevel mixed effects models confirmed that lower Cho predicted faster cross-modal matching reaction time, specifically in the hard word condition. These Cho findings are consistent with previous work in both adults and children showing a negative association between Cho and reading ability. We also found two novel neurochemical relationships. Specifically, lower GABA and higher NAA predicted faster cross-modal matching reaction times. We interpret these results within a biochemical framework in which the ability of neurochemistry to predict reading ability may at least partially be explained by cross-modal integration.

Edited 1 H magnetic resonance spectroscopy in vivo: Methods and metabolites

The Proton magnetic resonance (1 H-MRS) spectrum contains information about the concentration of tissue metabolites within a predefined region of interest (a voxel). The conventional spectrum in some cases obscures information about less abundant metabolites due to limited separation and complex splitting of the metabolite peaks. One method to detect these metabolites is to reduce the complexity of the spectrum using editing. This review provides an overview of the one-dimensional editing methods available to interrogate these obscured metabolite peaks. These methods include sequence optimizations, echo-time averaging, J-difference editing methods (single BASING, dual BASING, and MEGA-PRESS), constant-time PRESS, and multiple quantum filtering. It then provides an overview of the brain metabolites whose detection can benefit from one or more of these editing approaches, including ascorbic acid, γ-aminobutyric acid, lactate, aspartate, N-acetyl aspartyl glutamate, 2-hydroxyglutarate, glutathione, glutamate, glycine, and serine. Magn Reson Med 77:1377-1389, 2017. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

Glutamate and choline levels predict individual differences in reading ability in emergent readers

Reading disability is a brain-based difficulty in acquiring fluent reading skills that affects significant numbers of children. Although neuroanatomical and neurofunctional networks involved in typical and atypical reading are increasingly well characterized, the underlying neurochemical bases of individual differences in reading development are virtually unknown. The current study is the first to examine neurochemistry in children during the critical period in which the neurocircuits that support skilled reading are still developing. In a longitudinal pediatric sample of emergent readers whose reading indicators range on a continuum from impaired to superior, we examined the relationship between individual differences in reading and reading-related skills and concentrations of neurometabolites measured using magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Both continuous and group analyses revealed that choline and glutamate concentrations were negatively correlated with reading and related linguistic measures in phonology and vocabulary (such that higher concentrations were associated with poorer performance). Correlations with behavioral scores obtained 24 months later reveal stability for the relationship between glutamate and reading performance. Implications for neurodevelopmental models of reading and reading disability are discussed, including possible links of choline and glutamate to white matter anomalies and hyperexcitability. These findings point to new directions for research on gene-brain-behavior pathways in human studies of reading disability.

Cortical GABA levels in primary insomnia

STUDY OBJECTIVES

GABA is increasingly recognized as an important neurotransmitter for the initiation and maintenance of sleep. We sought to measure cortical GABA content through proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in persons with and without primary insomnia, and relate brain GABA levels to polysomnographic sleep measures.

DESIGN

Two-group comparison study.

SETTING

Outpatient study at a university research clinic.

PARTICIPANTS

Non-medicated persons with primary insomnia (N = 16) and no sleep complaints (N = 17).

INTERVENTIONS

Participants kept sleep diaries and a regular time-in-bed schedule for 9 days, culminating in 2 consecutive nights of ambulatory polysomnography and a single proton MRS session. The main outcome measure was occipital GABA/creatine ratios; secondary measures included sleep measurements and relationship between polysomnographically measured time awake after sleep onset and occipital GABA content.

MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS

The primary insomnia group was distinguished from persons with no sleep complaints on self-reported and polysomnographically measured sleep. The two groups did not differ in age, sex, body mass index, habitual bed- and wake-times, napping, use of caffeine, or use of cigarettes. Mean occipital GABA level was 12% higher in persons with insomnia than in persons without sleep complaints (P < 0.05). In both groups, GABA levels correlated negatively with polysomnographically measured time awake after sleep onset (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Increased GABA levels in persons with insomnia may reflect an allostatic response to chronic hyperarousal. The preserved, negative relationship between GABA and time awake after sleep onset supports this notion, indicating that the possible allostatic response is adaptive.

Selective homonuclear polarization transfer for spectroscopic imaging of GABA at 7T

We develop and implement a selective homonuclear polarization transfer method for the detection of 3.0 ppm C-4 GABA resonance by spectroscopic imaging in the human brain at 7T. This single shot method is demonstrated with simulations and phantoms, which achieves comparable efficiency of detection to that of J-difference editing. The macromolecule resonance that commonly co-edits with GABA is suppressed at 7T through use of a narrow band preacquisition suppression pulse. This technique is implemented in humans with an eight channel transceiver array and high degree B(0) shimming to measure supplementary motor area and thalamic GABA in controls (n = 8) and epilepsy patients (n = 8 total). We find that the GABA/N-acetyl aspartate ratio in the thalamus of control volunteers, well controlled and poorly controlled epilepsy patients are 0.053 ± 0.012 (n = 8), 0.090 ± 0.012 (n = 2), and 0.038 ± 0.009 (n = 6), respectively.

The antidepressant effect of ketamine is not associated with changes in occipital amino acid neurotransmitter content as measured by [(1)H]-MRS

The NMDA receptor antagonist ketamine can induce a rapid improvement in depressive symptoms that often endures for days after a single intravenous dose. The pharmacodynamic basis for this effect is poorly understood. Using a proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ([(1)H]-MRS) method that previously detected a normalization of amino acid neurotransmitter (AANt) content after chronic treatment with conventional antidepressant treatments, we examined whether the acute action of ketamine is associated with alterations in AANt content as well. Ten subjects with major depressive disorder (MDD) received saline, then ketamine in a fixed order, one week apart, under single-blind conditions. Each infusion was associated with three [(1)H] MRS scans (baseline, 3h and 48 h post-infusion) that measured glutamate, GABA and glutamine within the occipital cortex. Rating scales were administered before, during and after each infusion. The rapid (1h) and sustained (at least 7 days) antidepressant effect we observed after ketamine infusion was not associated with either baseline measures of, or changes in, occipital AANt content. Dissociative symptoms were not correlated with changes in depression scores. While our results indicate that changes in occipital AANt content are not a correlate of ketamine's antidepressant action, this may only apply to the regional and temporal windows of our MRS measurements.

Elevated endogenous GABA concentration attenuates glutamate-glutamine cycling between neurons and astroglia

In this study, the relationship between endogenous brain GABA concentration and glutamate-glutamine cycling flux (V (cyc)) was investigated using in vivo (1)H and (1)H{(13)C} magnetic resonance spectroscopy techniques. Graded elevations of brain GABA levels were induced in rat brain after administration of the highly specific GABA-transaminase inhibitor vigabatrin (gamma-vinyl-GABA). The glial-specific substrate [2-(13)C]acetate and (1)H{(13)C} magnetic resonance spectroscopy were used to measure V (cyc) at different GABA levels. Significantly reduced V (cyc) was found in rats pretreated with vigabatrin. The reduction in group mean V (cyc) over the range of GABA concentrations investigated in this study (1.0 +/- 0.3-5.1 +/- 0.5 micromol/g) was found to be nonlinear: Delta V (cyc)/V (cyc) = [GABA (micromol/g)](-0.35 )- 1.0 (r (2) = 0.98). The results demonstrate that V (cyc) is modulated by endogenous GABA levels, and that glutamatergic and GABAergic interactions can be studied in vivo using noninvasive magnetic resonance spectroscopy techniques.

High-resolution, in vivo magnetic resonance imaging of Drosophila at 18.8 Tesla

High resolution MRI of live Drosophila was performed at 18.8 Tesla, with a field of view less than 5 mm, and administration of manganese or gadolinium-based contrast agents. This study demonstrates the feasibility of MR methods for imaging the fruit fly Drosophila with an NMR spectrometer, at a resolution relevant for undertaking future studies of the Drosophila brain and other organs. The fruit fly has long been a principal model organism for elucidating biology and disease, but without capabilities like those of MRI. This feasibility marks progress toward the development of new in vivo research approaches in Drosophila without the requirement for light transparency or destructive assays.

A detailed analysis of localized J-difference GABA editing: theoretical and experimental study at 4 T

The problem of low signal-to-noise ratio for gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in vivo is exacerbated by inefficient detection schemes and non-optimal experimental parameters. To analyze the mechanisms for GABA signal loss of a MEGA-PRESS J-difference sequence at 4 T, numerical simulations were performed ranging from ideal to realistic experimental implementation, including volume selection and experimental radio frequency (RF) pulse shapes with a macromolecular minimization scheme. The simulations were found to be in good agreement with phantom and in vivo data from human brain. The overall GABA signal intensity for the simulations with realistic conditions for the MEGA-PRESS difference spectrum was calculated to be almost half of the signal simulated under ideal conditions (~43% signal loss). In contrast, creatine was reduced significantly less then GABA (~19% signal loss). The 'four-compartment' distribution due to J-coupling in the PRESS-based localization was one of the most significant sources of GABA signal loss, in addition to imperfect RF profiles for volume selection and editing. An alternative strategy that reduces signal loss due to the four-compartment distribution is suggested. In summary, a detailed analysis of J-difference editing is provided with estimates of the relative amounts of GABA signal losses due to various mechanisms. The numerical simulations presented in this study should facilitate both implementation of the more efficient acquisition and quantification process of J-coupled systems.

Incorporating homonuclear polarization transfer into PRESS for proton spectral editing: illustration with lactate and glutathione

A proton spectral editing pulse sequence for the detection of metabolites with spin systems that involve weak coupling is presented. The sequence is based on homonuclear polarization transfer incorporated into the standard PRESS (Point RESolved Spectroscopy) sequence, which is a volume-selective double spin echo method, to enable spatial localization. All peaks in the region of interest are initially suppressed whether they are peaks from the target metabolite or from contaminating background. The target signal is then restored by polarization transfer from a proton that has a resonance outside the suppressed region and to which the target spins are weakly coupled. This is achieved by the application of a 90 degrees hard pulse with phase orthogonal to that of the PRESS excitation pulse at the location of the first echo in PRESS and by optimizing the two PRESS timings, TE(1) and TE(2), for most efficient yield. Background signal not coupled to any protons outside the initially saturated region remains suppressed. The advantage of this sequence compared to multiple quantum filters is that signal from singlet peaks outside the suppressed area are preserved and can thus be used as a reference. The efficacy of the sequence was verified experimentally on phantom solutions of lactate and glutathione at 3.0 T. For the AX(3) spin system of lactate, the sequence timings were optimized by product operator calculations whereas for the ABX spin system of the cysteinyl group of glutathione numerical calculations were performed for sequence timing optimization.

In vivo 13C saturation transfer effect of the lactate dehydrogenase reaction

Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH, EC 1.1.1.27) catalyzes an exchange reaction between pyruvate and lactate. It is demonstrated here that this reaction is sufficiently fast to cause a significant magnetization (saturation) transfer effect when the 13C resonance of pyruvate is saturated by a continuous-wave (CW) RF pulse. Infusion of [2-(13)C]glucose was used to allow labeling of pyruvate C2 at 207.9 ppm to determine the pseudo first-order rate constant of the unidirectional lactate-->pyruvate flux in vivo. During systemic administration of GABAA receptor antagonist bicuculline, this pseudo first-order rate constant was determined to be 0.08+/-0.01 s-1 (mean+/-SD, N=4) in halothane-anesthetized adult rat brains. In 9L and C6 rat glioma models, the 13C saturation transfer effect of the LDH reaction was also detected in vivo. Our results demonstrate that the 13C magnetization transfer effect of the LDH reaction may be useful as a novel marker for utilizing noninvasive in vivo MRS to study many physiological and pathological conditions, such as cancer.

In vivo detection of gray and white matter differences in GABA concentration in the human brain

A novel selective multiple quantum filtering-based chemical shift imaging method was developed for acquiring GABA images in the human brain at 3 T. This method allows a concomitant acquisition of an interleaved total creatine image with the same spatial resolution. Using T(1)-based image segmentation and a nonlinear least square regression analysis of GABA-to-total creatine concentration ratios in frontal and parietal lobes of healthy adult volunteers as a function of the tissue gray matter fraction, the mean GABA concentration in gray and white matter was determined to be 1.30+/-0.36 micromol/g and 0.16+/-0.16 micromol/g (mean+/-SD, n=13), respectively. It is expected that this method will become a useful tool for studying GABAergic function in the human brain in vivo.

Increased oxygen consumption in the somatosensory cortex of alpha-chloralose anesthetized rats during forepaw stimulation determined using MRS at 11.7 Tesla

The significance of changes in cerebral oxygen consumption in focally activated brain tissue is still controversial. Since the rate of cerebral oxygen consumption is tightly coupled to that of tricarboxylic acid cycle which can be measured from the turnover kinetics of [4-(13)C]glutamate using in vivo (1)H{(13)C} magnetic resonance spectroscopy, changes in tricarboxylic acid cycle flux rate were assessed in primary somatosensory cortex of alpha-chloralose anesthetized rats during electrical forepaw stimulation. With markedly improved (1)H{(13)C} magnetic resonance spectroscopy technique and the use of high magnetic field strength of 11.7 T accessible to the current study, [4-(13)C]glutamate at 2.35 ppm was spectrally resolved from overlapping resonances of [4-(13)C]glutamine at 2.46 ppm and [2-(13)C]GABA at 2.28 ppm as well as the more distal [3-(13)C]glutamate and [3-(13)C]glutamine. The results showed a significantly increased V(TCA) in focally activated primary somatosensory cortex during forepaw stimulation, corresponding to approximately 51 +/- 27% (n = 6, mean +/- SD) increase in cerebral oxygen consumption rate. Considering the high efficiency in producing adenosine triphosphate by oxidative metabolism of glucose, the results demonstrate that aerobic oxidative metabolism provides the majority of energy required for cerebral focal activation in alpha-chloralose anesthetized rats subjected to forepaw stimulation.

Current and future applications of magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy of the brain in hepatic encephalopathy

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a common neuro-psychiatric abnormality, which complicates the course of patients with liver disease and results from hepatocellular failure and/or portosystemic shunting. The manifestations of HE are widely variable and involve a spectrum from mild subclinical disturbance to deep coma. Research interest has focused on the role of circulating gut-derived toxins, particularly ammonia, the development of brain swelling and changes in cerebral neurotransmitter systems that lead to global CNS depression and disordered function. Until recently the direct investigation of cerebral function has been difficult in man. However, new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques provide a non-invasive means of assessment of changes in brain volume (coregistered MRI) and impaired brain function (fMRI), while proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H MRS) detects changes in brain biochemistry, including direct measurement of cerebral osmolytes, such as myoinositol, glutamate and glutamine which govern processes intrinsic to cellular homeostasis, including the accumulation of intracellular water. The concentrations of these intracellular osmolytes alter with hyperammonaemia. MRS-detected metabolite abnormalities correlate with the severity of neuropsychiatric impairment and since MR spectra return towards normal after treatment, the technique may be of use in objective patient monitoring and in assessing the effectiveness of various treatment regimens.

Echo-time independent signal modulations using PRESS sequences: a new approach to spectral editing of strongly coupled AB spin systems

In clinical MR spectroscopy, double spin-echo point resolved spectroscopy (PRESS) sequences are routinely used for volume selection. For strongly coupled AB spin systems under PRESS excitation, the dependence of the signal on the echo time TE has been thoroughly investigated, whereas less attention has been paid to the signal modulation which occurs at constant TE with varying interpulse delays. A substantial TE-independent J modulation is here predicted from analytical solutions of the Liouville equation and density matrix simulations, and verified with experiments on citrate at 1.5 and 3T. It is also shown that this modulation effect could be exploited for editing of strongly coupled AB resonances or for removal of singlets in spectra-by means of difference spectroscopy-just using a standard PRESS sequence. The applicability in vivo of this new spectral editing approach is also demonstrated, with selective detection of citrate resonances in the human prostate. This novel approach has the advantages of being simple, and directly applicable on standard clinical MR scanners, provided that the exact behavior of the resonance is known.

In vivo single-shot, proton-localized 13C MRS of rhesus monkey brain

A single-shot, proton-localized, polarization transfer (13)C spectroscopic method was proposed and implemented on a 4.7 T scanner for studying rhesus monkey brains. The polarization transfer sequence was mostly adiabatic, minimizing signal loss due to B(1) inhomogeneity. RF pulses in polarization transfer were also used for voxel selection of protons with gradient fields. The transferred (13)C magnetization was refocused by additional refocusing adiabatic pulses. With the intravenous infusion of D-[1-(13)C]glucose solution, (13)C NMR spectra from a 30 mL voxel were acquired for the resonances of C1 of glucose, C2,3,4 of glutamate and glutamine. The time-resolved turnover of glutamate, glutamine and aspartate from intravenously infused D-[1-(13)C]glucose at a temporal resolution of 12 min was demonstrated with excellent spectral resolution and signal-to-noise ratio. Typically, the half-height linewidth of the decoupled (13)C peaks was approximately 4 Hz. Data obtained with infusion of sodium [2-(13)C]acetate using the proposed polarization transfer method and data from the carboxylic carbon region using non-localized acquisition are also presented.

Metabolic alterations in focally activated primary somatosensory cortex of alpha-chloralose-anesthetized rats measured by 1H MRS at 11.7 T

Previously, magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies of alterations in cerebral metabolite concentration during functional activation have been focused on phosphocreatine using 31P MRS and lactate using 1H MRS with controversial results. Recently, significant improvements on the spectral resolution and sensitivity of in vivo spectroscopy have been made at ultrahigh magnetic field strength. Using highly resolved localized short-TE 1H MRS at 11.7 T, we report metabolic responses of rat somatosensory cortex to forepaw stimulation in alpha-chloralose-anesthetized rats. The phosphocreatine/creatine ratio was found to be significantly decreased by 15.1 +/- 4.6% (mean +/- SEM, P < 0.01). Lactate remained very low (approximately <0.3 micromol/g w/w) with no statistically significant changes observed during forepaw stimulation at a temporal resolution of 10.7 min. An increase in glutamine and a decrease in glutamate and myo-inositol were also detected in the stimulated state. Our results suggest that, under the experimental conditions used in this study, increased energy consumption due to focal activation causes a shift in the creatine kinase reaction towards the direction of adenosine triphosphate production. At the same time, metabolic matching prevails during increased energy consumption with no significant increase in the glycolytic product lactate in the focally activated primary somatosensory cortex of alpha-chloralose-anesthetized rats.

Integrated RF probe for in vivo multinuclear spectroscopy and functional imaging of rat brain using an 11.7 Tesla 89 mm bore vertical microimager

To acquire high quality in vivo NMR data from rat brain using a vertical 89-mm bore magnet, specially designed NMR probes with integrated RF coils and animal handling capability are required. An RF probe design that is also capable of rat head fixation, body support and suitable for physiology monitoring and maintenance was constructed for an 89 mm bore, 11.7 T, vertical microimager which is equipped with a 57-mm i.d. gradient insert. Design concept and practical aspects of probe construction are described in detail. The device allows accurate and highly reproducible positioning of rat head inside the magnet while providing excellent RF performance. Typical results from fMRI, localized in vivo proton and multinuclear spectroscopy using this probe system are presented.

Selective homonuclear Hartmann-Hahn transfer method for in vivo spectral editing in the human brain

A novel selective homonuclear Hartmann-Hahn transfer method for in vivo spectral editing is proposed and applied to measurements of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the human brain at 3 T. The proposed method utilizes a new concept for in vivo spectral editing, the spectral selectivity of which is not based on a conventional editing pulse but based on the stringent requirement of the doubly selective Hartmann-Hahn match. The sensitivity and spectral selectivity of GABA detection achieved by this doubly selective Hartmann-Hahn match scheme was superior to that achievable by conventional in vivo spectral editing techniques providing both sensitivity enhancement and excellent suppression of overlapping resonances in a single shot. Since double-quantum filtering gradients were not employed, singlets such as the NAA methyl group at 2.02 ppm and the creatine methylene group at 3.92 ppm were detected simultaneously. These singlets may serve as navigators for the spectral phase of GABA and for frequency shifts during measurements. The estimated concentration of GABA in the frontoparietal region of the human brain in vivo was 0.7 +/- 0.2 mumol/g (mean +/- SD, n = 12).

Elevated endogenous GABA level correlates with decreased fMRI signals in the rat brain during acute inhibition of GABA transaminase

Vigabatrin and gabaculine, both highly specific inhibitors of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) transaminase, cause significant elevation of endogenous GABA levels in brain. The time course of GABA concentration after acute GABA transaminase inhibition was measured quantitatively in the alpha-chloralose-anesthetized rat brain using in vivo selective homonuclear polarization transfer spectroscopy. The blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) effect in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has been considered to be coupled tightly to neuronal activation via the metabolic demand of associated glutamate transport. Correlated with the rise in endogenous GABA level after vigabatrin or gabaculine treatment, the intensity of BOLD-weighted fMRI signals in rat somatosensory cortex during forepaw stimulation was found to be reduced significantly. These results are consistent with previous findings that inhibition of GABA transaminase leads to augmented GABA release and potentiation of GABAergic inhibition.

Brain γ-aminobutyric acid measurement by proton double-quantum filtering with selectiveJ rewinding

An optimized single-shot proton double-quantum (DQ) filter for the quantification of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels in human brain is reported. It is demonstrated that creation of DQ coherences following dual-resonance-selective refocusing gives a theoretical editing efficiency of 50% for the detection of the GABA resonance at 3.01 ppm. The sequence times are optimized with both numerical and experimental analyses of the editing performance, giving an experimental editing efficiency of 42%. It is acknowledged that homocarnosine is partially coedited, leading to a 20% contribution to the edited signal; however, macromolecule contamination is negligible in vivo under these experimental conditions. The GABA concentration in human prefrontal cortex is estimated to be 0.8 +/- 0.1 micromol/g (mean +/- SD, n = 6), with reference to the internal standard creatine at 9 micromol/g.

In vivo detection of cortical GABA turnover from intravenously infused [1-13C]D-glucose

In this study [2-(13)C] gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) was spectrally resolved in vivo and detected simultaneously with [4-(13)C]glutamate (Glu) and [4-(13)C]glutamine (Gln) in the proton spectra obtained from a localized 40 microL voxel in rat neocortex with the use of an adiabatic (1)H-observed, (13)C-edited (POCE) spectroscopy method and an 89-mm-bore vertical 11.7 Tesla microimager. The time-resolved kinetics of (13)C label incorporation from intravenously infused [1-(13)C]glucose into [4-(13)C]Glu, [4-(13)C]Gln, and [2-(13)C]GABA were measured after acute administration of gabaculine, a potent and specific inhibitor of GABA-transaminase. In contrast to previous observations of a rapid turnover of [2-(13)C]GABA from [1-(13)C]glucose in intact rat brain, the rate of (13)C incorporation from [1-(13)C]glucose into [2-(13)C]GABA in the gabaculine-treated rats was found to be significantly reduced as a result of the blockade of the GABA shunt.

In vivo carbon-13 magnetization transfer effect. Detection of aspartate aminotransferase reaction

One of the most remarkable achievements of in vivo NMR spectroscopy has been the detection of rapid enzyme-catalyzed exchange reactions using phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy-based magnetization transfer experiments. In this paper, we report, for the first time, the in vivo carbon magnetization transfer (CMT) effect and in vivo detection of the CMT effects of the alpha-ketoglutarate <--> glutamate and the oxaloacetate <--> aspartate reactions, both of which are catalyzed by aspartate aminotransferase. By saturating the carbonyl carbon of alpha-ketoglutarate at 206 ppm in alpha-chloralose anesthetized adult rat brain, the unidirectional glutamate --> alpha-ketoglutarate flux was determined to be 78 +/- 9 mumol/g/min (mean +/- SD, n = 11) following i.v. infusion of [1,6-(13)C(2)]D-glucose. Contribution from aspartate aminotransferase-catalyzed partial reactions to the observed CMT effects was emphasized. Because of the large chemical shift separation between the alpha-carbons of the amino acids and the carbonyl carbons of the corresponding cognate keto acids, the spillover of the saturation radiofrequency pulses to the alpha-carbon resonances was negligible. The results indicate that the magnetization transfer effects of aspartate aminotransferase-catalyzed reactions can be used as new biomarkers accessible to non-invasive in vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy techniques.

A new strategy for in vivo spectral editing. Application to GABA editing using selective homonuclear polarization transfer spectroscopy

A novel single-shot in vivo spectral editing method is proposed in which the signal to be detected, is regenerated anew from the thermal equilibrium magnetization of a source to which it is J-coupled. The thermal equilibrium magnetization of the signal to be detected together with those of overlapping signals are suppressed by single-shot gradient dephasing prior to the signal regeneration process. Application of this new strategy to in vivo GABA editing using selective homonuclear polarization transfer allows complete suppression of overlapping creatine and glutathione while detecting the GABA-4 methylene resonance at 3.02 ppm with an editing yield similar to that of conventional editing methods. The NAA methyl group at 2.02 ppm was simultaneously detected and can be used as an internal navigator echo for correcting the zero order phase and frequency shifts and as an internal reference for concentration. This new method has been demonstrated for robust in vivo GABA editing in the rat brain and for study of GABA synthesis after acute vigabatrin administration.