31P transverse relaxation times of ATP in human brain in vivo

Abstract
31P MRS examinations of the brain of 10 healthy volunteers were performed to determine T2 of the coupled ATP signals by use of the localized 90° ‐ TE/2 ‐ 2662 ‐ TE/2 ‐ acq frequency selective spin echo sequence for elimination of phase and intensity distortions. The T2 relaxation times obtained are much longer than usually assumed: γ‐ATP: 89 ± 9 ms; α‐ATP: 84 ± 6 ms; β‐ATP: 62 ± 3 ms.