Spin Echo Studies on Cellular Water

TL;DR

This study uses spin-echo NMR to show that cellular water in rat muscle has significantly different relaxation times and diffusion properties, indicating a more ordered state than pure water.

Contribution

It provides experimental evidence that cellular water exhibits distinct physical properties, suggesting a more ordered state compared to pure water.

Findings

Shorter relaxation times for cellular water

Reduced spin diffusion coefficient in cellular water

Cellular water is more ordered than pure water

Abstract

Previous studies indicated that the physical state of cellular water could be significantly different from pure liquid water. To experimentally investigate this possibility, we conducted a series of spin-echo NMR measurements on water protons in rat skeletal muscle. Our result indicated that the spin-lattice relaxation time and the spin-spin relaxation time of cellular water protons are both significantly shorter than that of pure water (by 4.3-fold and 34-fold, respectively). Furthermore, the spin diffusion coefficient of water proton is almost 1/2 of that of pure water. These data suggest that cellular water is in a more ordered state in comparison to pure water.