High Resolution 31P Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic Imaging with Polarization Transfer of Phosphomono and -Diesters in the Human Brain at 3T

Jannie Petra Wijnen¹, Tom W.J. Scheenen¹, Arend Heerschap¹

(Glycero)phosphocholine and (glycero)phosphoetanolamine are important substances in membrane metabolism, and can be detected in the brain by ³¹P MRS. We have developed a spectroscopic imaging sequence with efficient ¹H to ³¹P polarisation transfer, optimized for the signals of PE, PC, GPE and GPC by using chemical shift selective refocusing pulses. Here we present the first results of the ratios of these compounds in the cerebellum, white matter and gray matter of the normal human brain at different ages.