Na-23 NMR spin-lattice relaxation times in rat tissues, and related modifications following CCl4 intoxication.

Intracellular Na-23 NMR signals were analyzed to investigate the T1 nuclear magnetic relaxation times of sodium ions in rat tissues under physiological conditions in presence of the shift reagent Dy(PPPi)2(7-). The T1 values so measured showed a high degree of reproducibility (10%). The order of T1 values found for the investigated rat tissues was the following: liver, spleen less than kidney less than muscle, brain less than blood. Furthermore, livers of rats treated with the known hepatotoxic agent CCl4 were studied. This tissue showed a significative increase of T1 with respect to those of normal rats. The T1 lengthenings were discussed in terms of various cellular injuries induced in the liver by CCl4 intoxication and our results showed that T1 lengthening did not depend on liver necrosis.