PROTON NMR-STUDIES OF TISSUE WATER PHASES DURING CHEMICAL CARCINOGENESIS IN RATS

The water content, relative ratio of bound water, mean H-1 NMR spin-la ttice relaxation time T1, and T1 of bound water fraction were studied on rat liver during the course of cancer induction by diethylnitrosami ne. Using the FETS model proposed by Fung, the results were discussed according to histology. Liver T1 increase was correlated with water co ntent and a regular decrease of T1b. was observed during the course of hepatocarcinogenesis, associated with a shift of the position of the minimum of T1b toward the negative temperatures. A biphasic decay of T 1b was also noticed in the presence of hepatocarcinoma nodules.