3D localized 1H-13C heteronuclear single-quantum coherence correlation spectroscopy in vivo

A method for spatially three‐dimensional (3D) localized two‐dimensional (2D) 1H‐13C correlation spectroscopy, localized HSQC, is proposed. This method has the following special feature in the preparation period. The 180°(13C) and 180°(1H) pulses are separated in time, and the 180°(13C) pulse is applied at 1/(4 1JCH) before the 90°(1H) polarization transfer pulse. The preparation (echo) period 2τ can then be set substantially longer than 1/(2 1JCH), so that even in a whole‐body system, slice‐selective 90°(1H) pulses and gradient pulses can be applied in that period. The localization capabilities of this method were confirmed in a phantom experiment. The 3D localized 2D 1H‐13C correlation spectra from a monkey brain in vivo were obtained after [1‐13C]glucose injection, and amino acid metabolism was detected; that is, [4‐13C]glutamate appeared immediately after the injection, followed by the appearance of [2‐13C]glutamate, [3‐13C]glutamate, and [4‐13C]glutamine. Magn Reson Med 43:200–210, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.