In vivo characterization of brain ultrashort-T2 components.

ABSTRACT: PURPOSE:Recent nuclear magnetic resonance and MRI studies have measured a fast-relaxing signal component with T2∗<1 ms in white matter and myelin extracts. In ex vivo studies, evidence suggests that a large fraction of this component directly arises from bound protons in the myelin phospholipid membranes. Based on these results, this ultrashort-T2 component in nervous tissue is a new potential imaging biomarker of myelination, which plays a critical role in neuronal signal conduction across the brain and loss or degradation of myelin is a key feature of many neurological disorders. The goal of this work was to characterize the relaxation times and frequency shifts of ultrashort-T2 components in the human brain. METHODS:This required development of an ultrashort echo time relaxometry acquis

SUBMITTER: Boucneau T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5910201 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature