Performance of MRS in metabolic profiling of the lumbar spinal cord in rat and mice

ObjectIn vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) of the rodent spinal cord (SC) is technically challenging. We investigated the feasibility of MRS in the SC of both rat and mice, by comparing the spectral characteristics. We assessed possible species dependent differences in the suitability for non-invasive metabolite monitoring in the SC.Materials and methodsMR spectra using a STEAM sequence were acquired from a rectangular voxel in lumbar SC of rats and mice, after a two-step shim procedure.ResultsIn addition to total choline (tCho) and total creatine (tCr), seven and eleven metabolites were reliably detected in rats and mice, respectively. No significant differences were observed in metabolite concentrations or spectral characteristics between species.ConclusionIdentification and quantification of major metabolites including the neurotransmitters γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glycine (Gly) in the SC was successful in both rat and mice showing that investigation of SC neurochemical profiles is feasible in both species.