Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy with metabolite nulling reveals regional differences of macromolecules in normal human brain.
OBJECTIVE
To quantify the macromolecular content in different anatomic brain regions and to evaluate an age dependency of the macromolecular concentrations.


METHODS
A short echo time Stimulated Echo Acquisition Mode (STEAM) sequence was used without and with inversion recovery metabolite nulling in 8-12 healthy volunteers. Quantitation was achieved by an extended LCModel, and macromolecular resonances at 0.9, 1.4, 2.1, and 3.0 ppm were evaluated.


RESULTS
In the cerebellum, the 1.4, 2.1, and 3.0 ppm resonances were highest compared to all other regions (P < 0.02); the 0.9 ppm resonance was significantly higher than that of pons (P < 0.01). In the motor cortex, the 0.9, 1.4, and 2.1 ppm resonances were higher than those of white matter and pons (P < 0.02). Pons and white matter did not differ significantly from each other. A significant correlation of the macromolecular concentrations with the age could not be found.


CONCLUSIONS
There were higher macromolecular concentrations in the cerebellum and motor cortex than in pons or white matter. These were probably due to the higher portions of gray matter in these volumes of interest (VOIs) than in the other regions.
Mader
Irina
I
Department of Neuroradiology, Radiological Hospital of the University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany. irina.mader@med.uni-tuebingen.de
Seeger
Uwe
U
Karitzky
Jochen
J
Erb
Michael
M
Schick
Fritz
F
Klose
Uwe
U
D000328:Adult; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000737:chemistry; D011149:Pons / Q000737:chemistry