Magnetic coupling between water and creatine protons in human brain and skeletal muscle, as measured using inversion transfer H-1-MRS

Using the inversion transfer technique, the possible magnetic coupling betw een water protons and the protons of low-molecular weight metabolites was i nvestigated in human brain and skeletal muscle at 1.5 T. The localized H-1- MR spectra were recorded at different times after selective inversion of th e water resonance. Water inversion led to a significant transient reduction in the signal intensity of the methyl protons of creatine/phosphocreatine, in both tissues. This is indicative of magnetic coupling between the proto ns of water and those of creatine/phosphocreatine. Neither the choline and N-acetylaspartate protons in brain nor the protons of the trimethylammonium pool in skeletal muscle showed a significant magnetic coupling to mobile w ater. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.