Abstract
Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy is governed by longitudinal (T1) relaxation. For protein and nucleic acid experiments in solutions, it is well established that apparent T1 values can be enhanced by selective excitation of targeted resonances. The present study explores such longitudinal relaxation enhancement (LRE) effects for molecules residing in biological tissues. The longitudinal relaxation recovery of tissue resonances positioned both down- and upfield of the water peak were measured by spectrally selective excitation/refocusing pulses, and compared with conventional water-suppressed, broadband-excited counterparts at 9.4 T. Marked LRE effects with up to threefold reductions in apparent T1 values were observed as expected for resonances in the 6-9 ppm region; remarkably, statistically significant LRE effects were also found for several non-exchanging metabolite resonances in the 1-4 ppm region, encompassing 30-50 % decreases in apparent T1 values. These LRE effects suggest a novel means of increasing the sensitivity of tissue-oriented experiments, and open new vistas to investigate the nature of interactions among metabolites, water and macromolecules at a molecular level.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
