INVESTIGATION OF BOUND WATER IN FROZEN PRECANCEROUS RAT-LIVER TISSUE BY PROTON NMR

The proton NMR spin lattice relaxation times of bound water (T1b) were studied on frozen rat liver samples during the precancerous step of c ancer induction by diethylnitrosamine. Two components of the T1b were found, which show a differ,ent temperature dependence of their relativ e magnetization. Four different steps were identified during the exper imental cancer induction according to H-1 NMR findings, while only thr ee were distinguished after histological examination. The results poin t to the influence of cross-relaxation and corroborate previous report s on differences observed between the heal capacity of normal and tumo rous tissues.