title: Neurochemical profile of the human cervical spinal cord determined by MRS.
abstract: MRS enables insight into the chemical composition of central nervous system tissue. However, technical challenges degrade the data quality when applied to the human spinal cord. Therefore, to date detection of only the most prominent metabolite resonances has been reported in the healthy human spinal cord. The aim of this investigation is to provide an extended metabolic profile including neurotransmitters and antioxidants in addition to metabolites involved in the energy and membrane metabolism of the human cervical spinal cord in vivo. To achieve this, data quality was improved by using a custom-made, cervical detector array together with constructive averaging of a high number of echo signals, which is enabled by the metabolite cycling technique at 3T. In addition, the improved spinal cord spectra were extensively cross-validated, in vivo, post-mortem in situ and ex vivo. Reliable identification of up to nine metabolites was achieved in group analyses for the first time. Distinct features of the spinal cord neurochemical profile, in comparison with the brain neurotransmission system, include decreased concentrations of the sum of glutamate and glutamate and increased concentrations of aspartate, γ-amino-butyric acid, scyllo-inositol and the sum of myo-inositol and glycine.
authors: Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. hock@biomed.ee.ethz.ch.|Hospital of Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. hock@biomed.ee.ethz.ch.
authors: Andreas
authors: A
authors: Hock
authors: Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors: Bertram
authors: B
authors: Wilm
authors: Physical Chemistry, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors: Giorgia
authors: G
authors: Zandomeneghi
authors: Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors: Garyfalia
authors: G
authors: Ampanozi
authors: Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors: Sabine
authors: S
authors: Franckenberg
authors: Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors: Niklaus
authors: N
authors: Zoelch
authors: Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.|Institute of Neuroradiology, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors: Patrik Oliver
authors: PO
authors: Wyss
authors: Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors: Nicola
authors: 0000-0003-4424-8430
authors: N
authors: De Zanche
authors: Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors: Jurek
authors: J
authors: Nordmeyer-Maßner
authors: Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Kraemer
authors: Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Thali
authors: Physical Chemistry, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors: Matthias
authors: M
authors: Ernst
authors: Institute of Neuroradiology, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors: Spyros
authors: S
authors: Kollias
authors: Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.|Max Plank Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tuebingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
authors: Anke
authors: A
authors: Henning
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D066193:Cervical Cord / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D057054:Molecular Imaging / Q000379:methods; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents
keywords: ex vivo; human spinal cord; in situ; in vivo; proton MRS