Relationship between observed NMR changes and brain water content following electroconvulsive stimulation in the rat

The administration of electroconvulsive stimuli to anaesthetised rats results in changes in the relaxation times and water content of grey and white matter, but not in mid brain, hind brain or cerebellum. White matter changes occur in both T1 and T2, are biphasic in character and related to water content. Grey matter changes are confined to T1 and water content only. It is suggested that these changes are related to altered compartmentalisation of water, manifesting in a different manner in the two tissues probably due to their different cellular and biochemical composition.