Some aspects of measuring levels of potassium in the brain.
The general aim of this work is to measure brain potassium (K) levels as a marker of intracellular water content and to test the hypothesis of whether edema in multiple sclerosis (MS) is associated with increased intracellular brain water. For that purpose, a system to measure K in brain is being developed. Our specific aim is to assess the potential contribution to the K photopeak from cranial K located outside the brain. For this, a simplified spherical phantom to represent the brain, a square box to represent the cranium, and a K point source to assess the contributions due to K outside the brain were used. It is estimated that only about 1-2% of the K photopeak might be attributable to K outside the brain.
Wielopolski
L
L
Brookhaven National Laboratory Bldg. 490-D, Upton, NY 94520, USA. lwielo@bnl.gov
Ramirez
L M
LM
Coyle
P
P
Heymsfield
S
S
Zimman
J
J
D001923:Brain Chemistry; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007553:Isotope Labeling / Q000379:methods; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000378:metabolism; D011188:Potassium / Q000032:analysis*
D011188:Potassium