Abstract #1882

Serai S, Leoni L, Haque M, Oberholzer J, Magin R, Roman B

To investigate the potential role of Manganese enhancement to measure glucose activated islets, we examined isolated human pancreatic islets. When present during glucose stimulation, extra-cellular Mn can enter -cells through voltage-gated calcium channels and its accumulation alters T1 and T2 relaxation times. Preferential enhancement of signal intensity can be obtained by selectively altering these relaxation parameters. Therefore before the study of any contrast agent effects, T1 and T2 of control islets were measured and maps created to establish baseline values. These data were then used to establish parameters for MR image acquisition of activated versus non-activated islets.