Maturation effects on the nmr microimaging characteristics of single neurons. Aiken, Nanci R., Edward W. Hsu, Anthony Horsman, and Stephen J. Blackband. The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Department of Radiology, Baltimore, MD 21205
APStracts 3:0183C, 1996.
We have used an isolated neuronal preparation of single Aplysia californica L7 cells in order to study the effects of development on the nuclear magnetic resonance characteristics, T2 spin-spin relaxation rate (RT2) and apparent diffusion coefficient (D), of intracellular water within the nuclear and cytoplasmic compartments. These studies demonstrate a significant correlation of animal weight, but not age, with RT2. On the other hand, D was not significantly different as a function of either age or weight in single L7 neurons. Demonstration of maturation dependence in single cells is important in understanding the cellular origins of developmental effects on NMR characteristics in cell assemblies, such as brain.

Received 4 December 1995; accepted in final form 27 May 1996.
APS Manuscript Number C726-5.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Cell Physiology).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1996 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 17 June 96