APPLICATION OF MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-MEASURE MENTS IN ANIMAL RESEARCH

Title of the paper: Application of Magnetic-Resonance-Measurements in Animal Research. The magnetic-resonance-imaging (MRI) is an excellent non invasive method to study morphological structures in live animals. The first results of a growth investigation in swine indicate high co efficients of determination (R2 = 0.48-0.93) for the estimation of abs olute amounts and proportions of tissues in the body by in vivo measur ements, The accuracy of assessment is even higher in carcasses. Theref ore these estimation results can serve as a reference for other evalua tion methods. The superior quality of the images allows the identifica tion of morphological abnormalities caused by particular housing condi tions or diseases. If the equipment allows MR-spectroscopy (field stre ngth of at least 1.5 Tesla) in vivo muscle physiological processes can be investigated that e.g. are related to meat quality. Due to the mul tiple applicability the MR-system is a most valuable research tool.