Correlation of quantitative conductivity mapping and total tissue sodium concentration at 3T/4T

Purpose: To investigate the correlation between electrical conductivity and sodium concentration, both measured in vivo, in the human brain.

Methods: Conductivity measurements were performed on samples with different sodium (Na⁺ ) and agarose concentrations using a dielectric probe, and the correlation between conductivity and Na⁺ content was evaluated. Subsequently, brain conductivity and total Na⁺ content maps were measured in 8 healthy subjects using phase-based MREPT and sodium MRI, respectively. After co-registration and spatial normalization to the 1 mm 152 MNI brain atlas, the relationship between conductivity and tissue sodium concentration (TSC) was examined within different brain regions.

Results: The conductivities of agarose gels increased linearly with NaCl concentration, while remaining almost independent of agarose content. When measured in healthy subjects, conductivities showed positive correlation with total tissue sodium concentration (R = 0.39, P < 0.005). The same trend was found in gray matter (R = 0.36, P < 0.005) and in white matter (R = 0.28, P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Tissue conductivity shows a positive correlation with total sodium concentration. Conductivity might serve as a novel technique to visualize the total tissue electrolyte concentration, although refinements in the consideration of e.g., tissue water content, would be necessary to improve the quantitative value.