NMR spectroscopy and imaging of the neonatal brain

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy and imaging provide unique information abou t the brain to the biochemist and the clinician. In particular, the ability to image metabolites other than water and to get detailed information abou t dynamic cellular processes (such as blood flow, blood oxygenation and cel l swelling) is leading to many new insights into brain function and dysfunc tion. This review describes the use of old and new NMR techniques which dem onstrate that mitochondrial dysfunction plays an important role in the cell death that occurs following an hypoxic-ischaemic insult to the neonatal br ain.