Magnetic resonance techniques are developed to measure brain glutamate (Glu) concentrations but still not able to detect synaptic Glu release. In the currently study, in vivo diffusion-weighted MRS using low to very high b-values was performed on rat brain prefrontal cortex under both light and deep anesthesia conditions. Significant Glu diffusion and concentration changes were observed under different anesthesia levels in the absence of similar changes in NAA or creatine. The slower diffusion and lower concentration under deep anesthesia may reflect more Glu packed into synaptic vesicles with reduced mobility and NMR visibility.
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