William Miles Brooks1,2, Janna Harris,
Hung-Wen Yeh3, In-Young Choi1, Sang-Pil Lee,4
1Hoglund Brain Imaging
Center, University of Kansas, Kansas City, KS, United States; 2Neurology,
University of Kansas, Kansas City, KS, United States; 3Biostatistics,
University of Kansas, United States; 4Molecular & Integrative
Physiology, University of Kansas
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a complex clinical entity. Oxidative stress is one pathological mechanism contributing to poor outcome and trials of anti-oxidant strategies are underway. However, no robust non-invasive biomarker of oxidative stress is available. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy provides non-invasive quantification of numerous neurochemicals, including anti-oxidants - glutathione (GSH) and vitamin C (ascorbate, Asc). We characterized the time course of GSH and Asc in an animal model of TBI. Since MRS is equally feasible in animal models and human survivors of TBI, MRS might provide a robust means for translating results from animals to patients.