Nuclear magnetic resonance parameters of water in biological tissues.
Water is an essential ingredient for life; yet, in cells, its physical properties and their implications to function are poorly understood. Even though our knowledge is incomplete, all theories of cellular function have explicit or implicit assumptions about the physical properties of water. This report contains various views of the cell and the functional role of water in those views is presented. In addition, a view of the scientific thought that led to the first studies of pathophysiological states using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technology is presented. Finally, an attempt is made to show that it is important for us to know more about the physical properties of water, as determined by NMR techniques. This is thought to be important not only for the testing of our cellular theories but also for a better understanding of the information content of NMR images which are fast becoming common place.
D000818:Animals; D001834:Body Water / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007424:Intracellular Fluid / Q000378:metabolism; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism
D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium