New MRI method with contrast based on the macromolecular characteristics of tissues

A new MRI method with a contrast that is derived from the macromolecular composition and spin dynamics in the tissue is described and demonstrated on excised mouse brain and rat spinal cord. In the method, magnetization is selectively excited in the macromolecules by using a double quantum filter and subsequently transferred to water. The new imaging method differs from previous methods that rely on magnetization transfer contrast (MTC) in that it enables a separate and independent control of the effect of the macromolecule characteristics, chemical exchange, and water-related parameters on the images.