Combined 1H-NMR and vacuum dehydration study of rat muscles

Combined NMR and the vacuum dehydration method were used to study the state of water in rat muscle. Comparative studies were carried out on muscles of young and old mature white rats. The spin-lattice relaxation time was measured as a function of water content. The single-exponential behaviour of the relaxation process indicates a normal fast-exchange process between the different fractions. The more elaborate analysis demonstrates the failure of the original fast-exchange model. It is proved that structural changes take place in the macromolecule/ion/bound water system of the muscle even at the beginning of dehydration. All the muscle water seems to be necessary to maintain the normal natural state of the muscle's molecular structure.