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SummaryBackgroundIntracellular pH provides information on homeostatic mechanisms in neurons and glial cells. The aim of this study was to define pH of the brain of male volunteers using phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31PMRS) and to compare two methods of calculating this value.Material/MethodsIn this study, 35 healthy, young, male volunteers (mean age: 25 years) were examined by 31PMRS in 1.5 T MR system (Signa Excite, GE). The FID CSI (Free Induction Decay Chemical Shift Imaging) sequence was used with the following parameters: TR=4000 ms, FA=90°, NEX=2. Volume of interest (VOI) was selected depending on the size of the volunteers’ brain (11–14 cm3, mean 11.53 cm3). Raw data were analyzed using SAGE (GE) software.ResultsBased on the chemical shift of peaks in the 31PMRS spectrum, intracellular pH was calculated using two equations. In both methods the mean pH was slightly alkaline (7.07 and 7.08). Results were compared with a t-test. Significant difference (p<0.05) was found between these two methods.ConclusionsThe 31PMRS method enables non-invasive in vivo measurements of pH. The choice of the calculation method is crucial for computing this value. Comparing the results obtained by different teams can be done in a fully credible way only if the calculations were performed using the same formula.

PurposeThe aim of this 1HMRS study was to define sex-related differences in metabolic spectrum between healthy children. Forty-nine girls and boys aged 6-15 years were examined.Material and methodsVolume of interest was located in seven brain regions: frontal lobes, basal ganglia, hippocampi, and cerebellum.ResultsStatistical analysis of the results showed significantly higher (p < 0.05) myo-inositol concentrations relative to the total concentrations in the boys than the girls, as well as higher absolute N-acetyl aspartate concentrations in the left frontal lobes in girls. No other significant differences were shown, except for trends in differences.ConclusionsIn clinical practice the diagnostic process first of all focuses on assessing concentrations of metabolites to relative cerebellum concentration. Thus, the findings of the present study allow the conclusion that when analysing the results of 1HMRS studies in children it is not necessary to take into account the child’s gender.

Changes in the H MRS spectrum are visible with increasing age of the fetus. All studied substances in fetal brain change their concentrations during pregnancy, which may be associated with the synaptic and dendritic development as well as myelination. Knowledge about the chemical changes in the fetal brain can provide valuable information in studies of the mechanisms of pregnancy and fetal development, define steps of brain metabolic development and explain reasons of pathologies.