Markus Sack1,
2, Gabriele Ende1, Alexander Sartorius2, 3,
Wolfgang Weber-Fahr1, 2
1Neuroimaging, Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany; 2Translational Imaging, Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany; 3Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany
13C MRS suffers from an extremely low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) compared to 1H MRI/MRS due to the low Larmor frequency and low natural abundance. Because of the small brain size the approach of dynamic 13C MRS in mice is even more challenging but provides the advantage of investigating mouse models. We present in vivo data from one of the first 13C-cryo-coils for mouse brain imaging using an ISISDEPT sequence and [1-13C]-enriched glucose on a 9.4T scanner. The obtained spectra show a good SNR and proof that the use of a cryo-coil is feasible for 13C MRS in the mouse brain.