Despite its very small size and highly structural symmetry, the brain inorganic phosphate (Pi) signal is twice broader in linewidth or even splitting as compared to phosphocreatine signal by 31P-MRS at 7T. This puzzling phenomenon is attributed to spacial pH heterogeneity and rapid Pi diffusion between different cellular compartments, which likely prevails over other potential factors such as chemical exchange. Importantly, the Pi lineshape deconvolution by a two-component approach may provide a novel way to measure the distribution of neurons and astrocytes in brain if the assignment confirmed. Therefore this simple method may hold great promise to study neurodegenerative diseases.
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