Development of a protocol for the quantitative evaluation of contrast in NMR images of cryoprotective solvents in intact tissues.

In a recent study (Fyfe et al., Magn. Res. Chem. 32, 1994), chemical shift selective nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging was used to monitor the location and concentration of water and Me2SO in test samples. This study verifies that the technique can be applied to quantification of Me2SO in rat kidney and liver at temperatures commonly used for introducing cryoprotectants into tissues. A brief practical guide is provided for cryobiologists interested in using NMR imaging for such studies.