Adrianus J. Bakermans1,
Desiree Abdurrachim1, Klaas Nicolay1, Jeanine J.
Prompers1
1Biomedical
NMR, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
Proton MR spectroscopy (1H-MRS) allows for the noninvasive detection of myocardial metabolites, but its application in preclinical studies has been limited. We assessed the suitability of PRESS and STEAM for 1H-MRS in the in vivo mouse heart. Both sequences were ECG-triggered and respiratory-gated. To maintain steady state of magnetization, dummy pulses were performed during respiratory gates. Water signal stability was slightly better for PRESS than for STEAM, and SNR for PRESS was two-fold higher compared to STEAM. Using PRESS-localized saturation recovery experiments, T1 values were determined for mouse myocardial water and triglyceride.