Whether Magnetization Transfer could affect Multiexponential T2 (MET2) Relaxometry remains poorly explored. Here, the effects of irradiation at different offset frequencies on the MET2 components were evaluated as novel contrast mechanisms for white matter in the rat spinal cord at 16.4T. MET2 coefficients were found to shift with off-resonance saturation, showing unique tract-specific signatures across the irradiation frequency. Offset-saturation-induced (osi-) MET2 Relaxometry maps show strong contrasts between microstructurally-distinct rat spinal cord tracts. The potential of exploiting the osi-MET2 shift phenomenon to increase white matter contrast is discussed.
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