Application of volume-selected, two-dimensional multiple-quantum editing in vivo to observe cerebral metabolites

The volume selection technique SPACE has been combined with a two-dimensional multiple-quantum editing sequence to uniquely detect certain J-coupled cerebral metabolites. In vivo results demonstrating edited glutamate/glutamine and lactate from 0.4 ml of a rat's brain at 4.7 T are presented. The sequence was optimized to balance multiple-quantum generation and signal loss due to T2 relaxation. Without due regard to T2 relaxation little signal is observed.