Effects of intra- and extracellular space properties on diffusion and T2 relaxation in a tissue model

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of biophysical factors on the diffusion and the relaxation time T2 independently. Certain properties of the extracellular and the intracellular space may change radically in pathological conditions resulting in water diffusion changes. ue model consisting of red blood cells was studied. The extra- and intracellular spaces were modified osmotically and by suspending medium concentration. Diffusion measurements were evaluated with regard to the effective medium theory. r the nature of the protein in the extracellular space nor an increased level of intracellular hydration caused a significant net water diffusion change in the cell suspension. The relaxation time T2 exhibited very little dependence on the extracellular volume fraction or the concentration or the nature of the protein in the extracellular space. An increased level of intracellular hydration resulted in systematically larger T2 values. ms probable that increases in extracellular protein concentrations or in the extent of intracellular hydration do not play a significant role in the diffusion changes detected in pathological conditions. T2 appears to depend on the level of hydration or the total water content but is seemingly less dependent of the concentration and the nature of the extracellular protein in our model solutions.