Measuring Tissue pO2, Redox and pH by Magnetic Resonance Weekend Educational Course on Molecular Imaging, ISMRM 2006, Seattle, WA

Tissue energy metabolism can be characterized as the sequential oxidation of relatively reduced carbon sources with the transfer of reducing equivalents to NAD(P)+ or flavoproteins. These, in turn, use these electrons for energy production in mitochondria or for protection from reactive oxygen species, ROS. In either oxidative or fermentative metabolism, the endproducts of metabolism are acids, leading to low pH. This delicate balance of oxygen, redox ratios and pH can be upset in pathologies such as ischemia, renal failure, COPD, and cancer. Our understanding of the interrelationships between oxygen, redox and pH will be improved by the development of imaging methods to interrogate these parameters non-invasively. In this section, we will briefly describe current and novel approaches to the measurement of tissue oxygen, redox and pH.