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Time-resolved GluCEST MRI of acute glutamate-related signal changes following kainic acid administration
Donghoon Lee1, Do-Wan Lee2, Hyunju Ryu3
1Faculty of Health Sciences, Higher Colleges of Technology, Fujairah, P.O. Box 1626, United Arab Emirates.
Background:
Glutamate dysregulation is a key mechanism underlying seizure generation and epileptogenesis, yet non-invasive imaging methods capable of capturing dynamic glutamate-related changes in vivo remain limited. This study aimed to characterize time-dependent hippocampal glutamate-related signal changes following kainic acid-induced acute seizures using Glutamate-weighted CEST (GluCEST) MRI.
Methods:
Acute seizures were induced in rats by intraperitoneal administration of kainic acid. Time-resolved GluCEST MRI was performed at baseline, immediately after injection, and at 1, 3, and 5 h post-injection using a 7.0 T MRI system. GluCEST contrast in the hippocampus was quantified using magnetization transfer ratio asymmetry at 3.0 ppm and analyzed using a linear mixed-effects model.
Results:
Hippocampal GluCEST contrast did not differ between groups at baseline or immediately after injection. In contrast, the seizure group showed a significant increase in GluCEST contrast beginning at 1 h post-injection, peaking at 3 h, and remaining elevated at 5 h, with a significant group-by-time interaction.
Conclusions:
Time-resolved GluCEST MRI revealed delayed and sustained hippocampal glutamate-related signal changes following acute seizures, supporting its utility for probing seizure-related metabolic dynamics in vivo.
