Phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the spinal cord in the pig, rat, and rabbit.
OBJECTIVE
To ensure that contamination-free phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance (31P-NMR) spectra of the spinal cord could be obtained, a porcine model was adopted that provided a large cord sample and a greater area free from adjacent muscle tissue.


METHODS
Phosphorus-31 NMR spectra were acquired from the porcine spinal cord under in vivo conditions using a 4.7-T spectrometer. Spectra also were collected from perchloric acid and lipid extracts, and excised freeze trapped samples of the rat, rabbit, and pig spinal cord.


RESULTS
The in vivo spectrum showed resonances corresponding to adenosine triphosphate, phosphocreatine, inorganic phosphate, phosphomonoesterase, and phosphodiesterase as confirmed by extracts. In addition, a broad resonance was observed that was assigned to myelin phospholipids.


CONCLUSIONS
Phosphorus-31 NMR spectra of the spinal cord revealed resonances common to brain tissue. Importantly, the existence of a previously undetected resonance, which is likely to correspond to myelin phospholipids, also is reported. This resonance may prove important in future studies monitoring changes in myelin in response to trauma and ischemia.
O'Donnell
J M
JM
Department of Biophysics, Ohio State University, Columbus 43210, USA.
Akino
M
M
Zhu
H
H
Stokes
B T
BT
D000818:Animals; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013552:Swine