title: MR Spectra of Normal Adult Testes and Variations with Age: Preliminary Observations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim was to determine the proton MR (1H-MR) spectra of normal adult testes and variations with age.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-one MR spectra of normal testes, including 16 testes from men aged 20-39 years (group I) and 25 testes from men aged 40-69 years (group II), were analyzed. A single-voxel point-resolved spectroscopy sequence (PRESS), with TR/TE: 2000/25 ms was used. The volume of interest was placed to include the majority of normal testicular parenchyma. Association between normalized metabolite concentrations, defined as ratios of the calculated metabolite concentrations relative to creatine concentration, and age was assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Quantified metabolites of the spectra were choline (Cho), creatine (Cr), myo-inositol (mI), scyllo-inositol, taurine, lactate, GLx compound, glucose, lipids, and macromolecules resonating at 0.9 ppm (LM09), around 20 ppm (LM20), and at 13 ppm (LM13). Most prominent peaks were Cho, Cr, mI, and lipids. A weak negative correlation between mI and age (P = 0.015) was observed. Higher normalized concentrations of Cho (P = 0.03), mI (P = 0.08), and LM13 (P = 0.05) were found in group I than in group II.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  1H-MR spectra of a normal adult testis showed several metabolite peaks. A decrease of levels of Cho, mI, and LM13 was observed with advancing age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  • Single-voxel PRESS MRS of a normal testis is feasible. • 1H-MR spectra of a normal testis showed several metabolite peaks. • Most prominent peaks were Cho, Cr, mI, and lipids. • A decrease of Cho, mI, and LM13 was seen with advancing age.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Radiology, Medical School, University of Ioannina, 45110, Ioannina, Greece. a_tsili@yahoo.gr.
authors.forename: Athina C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Tsili
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Physics, Medical School, University of Ioannina, 45110, Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: Loukas G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Astrakas
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Radiology, Medical School, University of Ioannina, 45110, Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ntorkou
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Medical School, University of Ioannina, 45110, Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Giannakis
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University Hospital of Ioannina, Leoforos S. Niarchou, 45500, Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: Sotirios
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stavrou
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Radiology, University Hospital of Ioannina, Leoforos S. Niarchou, 45500, Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: Vasilios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Maliakas
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Medical School, University of Ioannina, 45110, Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sofikitis
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Radiology, Medical School, University of Ioannina, 45110, Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: Maria I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Argyropoulou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D002794:Choline / Q000378:metabolism; D003401:Creatine / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007294:Inositol / Q000378:metabolism; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013737:Testis / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C009217:scyllitol; D007294:Inositol; D003401:Creatine; D002794:Choline
keywords: Choline; Imaging; Magnetic resonance imaging; Magnetic resonance spectroscopy; Testis