In vivo detection of 13C-enriched glucose metabolites in mouse brain by T-SEDOR imaging

Protons J-coupled to 13C were selectively detected in the mouse head by in vivo 1H NMR imaging based on Twin Spin Echo DOuble Resonance (T-SEDOR) excitation. This pulse sequence combines a good chemical specificity with high sensitivity, requires no solvent pre-saturation and is well adapted to the imaging modality. 1H T-SEDOR maps of the mouse head allowed detection of areas of preferential accumulation of 13C-enriched compounds, upon repeated injections of uniformly 13C-labelled glucose, which induced hyperglycemia. The results demonstrated the feasibility, both in time scale and metabolite concentration, of applying T-SEDOR MRI for in vivo mapping brain areas characterized by enhanced rates of glucose uptake and/or accumulation of its metabolites.