Cerebral Glutamate Alterations Using Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer Imaging in a Rat Model of Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Sepsis

Glutamate-weighted chemical exchange saturation transfer (GluCEST) is a useful imaging tool to detect glutamate signal alterations caused by neuroinflammation. This study aimed to visualize and quantitatively evaluate hippocampal glutamate alterations in a rat model of sepsis-induced brain injury using GluCEST and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS). Twenty-one Sprague Dawley rats were divided into three groups (sepsis-induced groups (SEP05, n = 7 and SEP10, n = 7) and controls (n = 7)). Sepsis was induced through a single intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) at a dose of 5 mg/kg (SEP05) or 10 mg/kg (SEP10). GluCEST values and (1)H-MRS concentrations in the hippocampal region were quantified using conventional magnetization transfer ratio asymmetry and a water scaling method, respectively. In addition, we examined immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence staining to observe the immune response and activity in the hippocampal region after LPS exposure. The GluCEST and (1)H-MRS results showed that GluCEST values and glutamate concentrations were significantly higher in sepsis-induced rats than those in controls as the LPS dose increased. GluCEST imaging may be a helpful technique for defining biomarkers to estimate glutamate-related metabolism in sepsis-associated diseases.