Theodore Towse1,2, Adienne Dula1,2,
Samuel Bearden3, Edward Welch1, James Joers1,2,
Seth Smith1,2, Bruce Damon1,2
1Vanderbilt University Institute of
Imaging Science, Nashville, TN, United States; 2Radiology and
Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States; 3Biomedical
Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
CEST
is a molecular imaging technique that allows indirect detection of protons
associated with mobile proteins. GlycoCEST is a variant of CEST for imaging
tissue glycogen, the storage form of glucose. With glycoCEST, the -OH
protons of glycogen are saturated, transfer the saturation to bulk water by
way of chemical exchange which reduces the bulk water signal in proportion to
the glycogen content. the purpose of this study was to determine the
feasibility of glycoCEST imaging in human skeletal muscle at 7T. Our
findings, although preliminary, suggest that glycoCEST imaging at 7T can be
used to image muscle glycogen.