Abstract #0255

Beatty P, Jackson A, Waterton J, Taylor C, Parker G, McGrath D, Naish J

Dissolved oxygen can be used as a contrast agent in MRI due to the paramagnetic properties of the oxygen molecule. A modest increase in the longitudinal relaxation rate R1 of water protons is induced by O2, and the increase is proportional to the dissolved oxygen concentration. Measurements of oxygenation using these effects can provide an indication of tissue perfusion and metabolism.We discovered that contrary to previous findings, the T1 of skeletal muscle is reduced significantly in hyperoxic conditions. We also obtained measures of the time course of regional signal intensity change for healthy skeletal muscle during oxygen wash-in and wash-out.