Abstract:

Objective    To investigate the application of hydrogen proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy(1H-MRS) in non-human primates experiments. Methods    The 3.0T 1HMRS was performed on 6 healthy macaca fascicularis. Four regions of interest were selected, including the corpus striatum, frontal lobe, thalamus and cerebellum. Nacetylaspartate/creatine(NAA/Cr) and choline/creatine(Cho/Cr) were obtained and compared. Results    NAA/Cr in the thalamus, cerebellum, frontal lobe and corpus striatum was in a decreasing order. There was a statistical difference between the thalamus and the other three structures, and also between the cerebellum and the corpus striatum. Cho/Cr in the frontal lobe, the cerebellum, the thalamus, and the corpus striatum was in a decreasing order. A statistical difference(P＜0.05) was obtained between the corpus striatum and the other three structures. Conclusion    NAA/Cr and Cho/Cr in the brain of macaca fascicularis vary in different structures. MRS study of non-human primates is feasible with clinical MR equipment, and the data exactly reflects the differences of brain structures and the change of the contents of metabolites, and can be an evidence for further pathophysiological studies.

Key words: Magnetic resonance spectroscopy; Primates; Macaca fascicularis; Brain