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A Pilot Study of Ratiometric Creatine CEST MRI Assessment of Rabbit Skeletal Muscle Energy Metabolism at 3 T
Jialei Zhao1, Gang Wu2, Qiting Wu1
1Paul C. Lauterbur Research Center for Biomedical Imaging, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging : JMRI
|May 29, 2023
Summary
pH MRI using creatine chemical exchange saturation transfer (CrCEST) ratiometric imaging effectively detects metabolic changes in skeletal muscle ischemia. This pH-sensitive MRI technique shows promise for evaluating muscle injury at the metabolic level.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Imaging
- Metabolic Imaging
- Musculoskeletal Research
Background:
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) can assess metabolic disruption in ischemia.
- Creatine chemical exchange saturation transfer (CrCEST) ratiometric MRI is pH-sensitive but underexplored for muscle ischemia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate skeletal muscle energy metabolism alterations using CrCEST ratiometric MRI.
- To evaluate the feasibility of CrCEST ratiometric MRI in assessing muscle ischemia.
Main Methods:
- Seven rabbits underwent 3T MRI, including MRA and CEST imaging, at two B1 amplitudes (0.5 and 1.25 μT) after induced hindlimb muscle ischemia and during reperfusion recovery.
- Creatine and phosphocreatine (PCrCEST) effects were resolved using multipool Lorentzian fitting.
- Pixel-wise CrCEST ratio was quantified by comparing CEST peaks at different B1 amplitudes.
Main Results:
- MRA confirmed blood flow changes during ischemia and recovery.
- Ischemic muscles showed decreased phosphocreatine (PCr) and increased CrCEST.
- The CrCEST ratio strongly correlated with CrCEST and PCrCEST, indicating metabolic alterations.
Conclusions:
- The CrCEST ratiometric MRI is a pH-sensitive technique feasible for evaluating muscle injuries.
- The CrCEST ratio significantly changes with muscle pathological states.
- This method provides insights into muscle metabolic alterations during ischemia and recovery.
