| abstract |
This invention is directed to a magnetic resonance imaging composition for imaging of an organ rich in mitochondria comprising particles of a substantially insoluble manganese compound. In a preferred embodiment, the organ rich in mitochondria is the liver. In a further preferred embodiment, the particles are substantially nonmagnetic. In another preferred embodiment, the particles have a particle size of less than about 10 microns. In a still further preferred embodiment, the insoluble manganese compound is a manganese salt. The manganese compound is preferably selected from the group consisting of manganese phosphate, manganese carbonate and manganese 8-hydroxy quinolate. In another preferred embodiment, the composition of the present invention further comprises a surfactant. The present invention is also directed to a method of diagnosis comprising administering to a mammal a contrast effective amount of particles of a substantially insoluble manganese compound suspended or dispersed in a physiologically tolerable carrier and generating an NMR image of said mammal. |