An investigation of the origins of contrast in NMR spin echo images of plant tissue

Functional imaging of plants by magnetic resonance experiments

Microimaging based on magnetic resonance is an experimental technique that can provide a unique view of a variety of plant physiological processes. Particularly interesting applications include investigations of water movement and spatially resolved studies of the transport and accumulation of labelled molecules in intact plant tissue. Some of the fundamental principles of nuclear and electron magnetic resonance microimaging are explained here and the potential of these techniques is shown using several representative examples.

Cartilage formation in a hollow fiber bioreactor studied by proton magnetic resonance microscopy

The ideal in vitro system for investigating the regulation of cartilage formation and maintenance would allow for three-dimensional tissue growth, a wide range of biochemical interventions, and non-destructive evaluation. We have developed a hollow fiber bioreactor (HFBR) system which meets these criteria. After injection with embryonic chick sternal chondrocytes, neocartilage is elaborated around the hollow fibers, reaching a thickness of up to a millimeter after four weeks of growth. This process was monitored over time with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) microimaging and correlative biochemical and histologic analyses. Tissue volume and cellularity increased greatly during development. This was accompanied by changes in magnetic resonance properties consistent with increased macromolecular content. Further, tissue heterogeneity, observed as regional variations in cell size in histologic sections, was also observed in quantitative NMR images.

Measurement of textural changes of food by MRI relaxometry

This article summarises the current status of, and future prospects for, the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to evaluate the texture of a range of foods, and changes therein which accompany pathogen infection, natural ageing, damage, ripening and processing. The basic concept is that the magnetic resonance parameters of water are sufficiently sensitive to the texture of the food matrix, that magnetic resonance images of the spatial distribution of those parameters are effectively maps of the structural status of the foodstuff. This is illustrated in the context of the effects of pathogen infection in cucumbers, internal necrosis of melons, bruising in peaches, ripening of pineapples, and the effect of freeze-thawing on meat and fish.

Quantitative T2 imaging of plant tissues by means of multi-echo MRI microscopy

A method for quantitative T2 imaging is presented which covers the large range of T2 values in plants (5 to 2000 ms) simultaneously. The transverse relaxation is characterized by phase-sensitive measurement of many echo images in a multi-echo magnetic resonance imaging sequence. Up to 1000 signal-containing echo images can be measured with an inter-echo time of 2.5 ms at 0.47 T. Separate images of water density and of T2 are obtained. Results on test samples, on the cherry tomato and on the stem of giant hogweed are presented. The effects of field strength, spatial resolution and echo time on the observed T2 values is discussed. The combination of a relatively low magnetic field strength, short echo time and medium pixel resolution results in excellent T2 contrast and in images hardly affected by susceptibility artifacts. The characterization of transverse relaxation by multi-echo image acquisition opens a new route for studies of water balance in plants.

Quantitative 1H-NMR imaging of water in white button mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus)

MRI represents a valuable tool for studying the amount and physical status of water in plants and agricultural products, for example, mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus). Contrast in NMR images originates from the mixed influence of the fundamental NMR parameters, amongst others, spin-density, T2- and T1 relaxation processes. Maps of these parameters contain valuable anatomical and physiological information. They can, however, be severely distorted, depending on the combination of parameter settings and anatomy of the object under study. The influence of the tissue structure of mushrooms, for example, tissue density (susceptibility inhomogeneity) and cell shape on the amplitude, T2, and T1 images is analyzed. This is achieved by vacuum infiltration of the cavities in the mushroom's spongy structure with Gd-DTPA solutions and acquiring Saturation Recovery-Multispin Echo images. It is demonstrated that the intrinsic long T2 values in the cap and outer stipe tissue strongly relate to the size and geometry of the highly vacuolated cells in these spongy tissues. All observed T2 values are strongly affected by susceptibility effects. The T2 of gill tissue is shorter than T2 of the cap and outer stipe, probably because these cells are less vacuolized and smaller in size. The calculated amplitude images are not directly influenced by susceptibility inhomogeneities as long as the observed relaxation times remained sufficient long. They reflect the water distribution in mushrooms best if short echo times are applied in a multispin echo imaging sequence at low magnetic field strength.

NMR imaging of white button mushroom (Agaricus bisporis) at various magnetic fields

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have been applied to visualize physiological phenomena in plants and agricultural crops. Imaging sequences that result in contrast of a combination of parameters (e.g., proton density, T1, T2, T2*) cannot be used for a correct and unique interpretation of the results. In this study multiecho imaging together with monoexponential T2 decay fitting was applied to determine reliable proton density and T2 distributions over a mushroom. This was done at three magnetic field strengths (9.4, 4.7, and 0.47 T) because susceptibility inhomogeneities were suspected to influence the T2 relaxation times negatively, and because the influences of susceptibility inhomogeneities increase with a rise in magnetic field strength. Electron microscopy was used to understand the different T2's for the various tissue types in mushrooms. Large influences of the tissue ultrastructure on the observed T2 relaxation times were found and explained. Based on the results, it is concluded that imaging mushrooms at low fields (around or below 0.47 T) and short echo times has strong advantages over its high-field counterpart, especially with respect to quantitative imaging of the water balance of mushrooms. These conclusions indicate general validity whenever NMR imaging contrast is influenced by susceptibility inhomogeneities.

In vivo magnetic resonance study of the histochemistry of coconut (Cocos nucifera)

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and localized proton MR spectroscopy (MRS) techniques have been applied for studying different maturation processes in the histochemistry of coconut (Cocos nucifera). Images of the tender and mature coconut are characterized by protons of the aqueous solution present in the cavity and from the surrounding pulp, whereas the image of the dry coconut is from the protons of the fat present in the pulp. Localized proton MR spectra of the water present in the cavity from the tender and the mature coconut show several resonances due to different chemical constituents of coconut water, whereas typical spectra of the pulp from dry coconut reveal a profile of the hydrogens present in the saturated and unsaturated fatty acid chains. In addition, images obtained from a rancid coconut show the extent of internal damage and degradation due to fungal growth; the corresponding localized MR spectra of the coconut water reveal that several proton resonances are absent.

Use of static and dynamic NMR microscopy to investigate the origins of contrast in images of biological tissues

NMR imaging experiments have been carried out on a fruit (Actinidia deliciosa) and plant stem (Stachys sylvatica) using a wide range of image contrasts. These included T1, T2, T2*, diffusion, flow and chemical shift selection. In the case of fruit imaging we calculated relaxation time and diffusion maps and established that the imaged parameters varied significantly with fruit ripening. These changes we attribute to changes in water dynamics resulting from elevated sugar concentrations. For the plant stem, water flow has been observed in the xylem vessels with a maximum velocity of 70 microns s-1. The role of image artifacts is considered and, in the case of transverse relaxation, we have demonstrated that it is necessary to use a precursor Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill pulse train if additional diffusive attenuation is to be avoided.

A quantitative study of water proton relaxation in packed beds of porous particles with varying water content

A quantitative analysis of the dependence of water proton relaxation on water content in randomly packed beds of Sephadex is undertaken. A combination of Osmotic and Capillary theory is used to describe the morphological changes occurring in the packed beds as the water content is lowered. At each water content the water proton relaxation is calculated using a "proton exchange-diffusion" model which takes into account fast chemical exchange between water and dextran hydroxyl protons and the diffusion of water molecules between the water compartments inside and outside the Sephadex beads. The relaxation time distribution are shown to provide a sensitive probe of the air-water distribution in the bed and of the shrinkage of the Sephadex beads at lower water contents. The theoretical models provide an accurate, quantitative description of the relaxation behavior except for the largest beads at high water contents when there is slow diffusion between the water compartments. In this case, a more realistic three-dimensional description of the air-water distribution in a randomly packed bed is required.

Magnetic resonance imaging: a new window into industrial processing

Although the most important use of nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) continues to be for diagnostic medicine, recognition is being gained for many nonmedical applications. Examples include the following areas: petrogeology, food, agriculture, polymers and polymer-composites, and pharmaceuticals. These areas all involve studies of species that have short spin-spin relaxation times, and consequently need far fast gradient switching. These technical details are discussed and typical applications given.