High resolution NMR spectroscopy of rat brain in vivo through indirect zero-quantum-coherence detection

The time evolution of zero-quantum-coherences (ZQCs) is insensitive to magnetic field inhomogeneity. Using a 2D indirect ZQC detection method it is shown that high-resolution 1H NMR spectra can be obtained from rat brain in vivo at 11.74 T that are immune to magnetic field inhomogeneity. Simulations based on the density matrix formalism, as well as in vitro measurements are used to demonstrate the features of 2D ZQC NMR spectra. Unique spectral information which is normally not directly available from regular 1H NMR spectra can be extracted and used for compound identification or improved prior knowledge during spectral fitting.