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Abstract #0314

In Vivo Simultaneous Measurement of Glutamine Synthetase and Glutamate Dehydrogenase Activity in the Hyperammonemic Rat Brain Using Localized 1H and 15N MRS

Cristina Cudalbu1, Bernard Lanz2, Paul R. Vasos3, Yves Pilloud2, Vladimr Mlynrik2, Rolf Gruetter2,4

1Laboratory for Functional and Metabolic Imaging (LIFMET), Ecole Polytechnique Fdrale de Lausanne (EPFL) , Lausanne, Switzerland; 2Laboratory for Functional and Metabolic Imaging (LIFMET), Ecole Polytechnique Fdrale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland; 3Laboratory for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; 42Departments of Radiology, Universities of Lausanne and Geneva, Switzerland


15N MRS is an alternative approach to 13C MRS in studying glutamate-glutamine metabolism and can provide a more straightforward interpretation. For this study we developed a new pulse sequence in order to simultaneously measure [5-15N]Gln and [2-15N]Gln+Glu for a direct measurement of the net glutamine synthesis rate (Vsyn-Vnt), Vsyn and VGDH under 15N-labeled ammonia infusion in the rat brain, using in vivo localized 15N MRS interleaved with 1H MRS. We obtained from the 1H data a net synthesis flux (Vsyn-Vnt)=0.0350.001mol/min/g. By fitting the in vivo 5-15N Gln and 2-15N Glu+Gln time courses, Vsyn=0.240.03mol/min/g, VGDH=0.0300.001mol/min/g. Finally, the apparent neurotransmission rate, Vnt=0.210.03mol/min/g.

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