Tissue specificity of low-field-strength magnetization transfer contrast imaging

The time-dependent saturation transfer technique was used to measure the transfer of magnetization in several rat tissues at 0.1 T. The length of the saturation pulse was varied from 0 to 510 msec. The magnetization transfer contrast effect was characteristic for each type of tissue. A substantial reduction of image intensity was obtained in skeletal muscle (74%), heart (71%), spleen (64%), brain (65%), pancreas (64%), liver (64%), kidneys (62%), and lungs (56%) with the longest saturation pulse available. Much smaller declines occurred in stagnant blood and peritoneal fat. The potential of this imaging technique for clinical conditions is discussed.