Currently, no MRI method exists to non-invasively and absolutely measure cellular activity. One approach is to quantify steady-state transmembrane water exchange rates. Diffusion Exchange Spectroscopy (DEXSY) non-invasively and directly encodes for exchange of endogenous components. Using DEXSY-based methods implemented on a low-field, high-gradient MR system, we show in viable ex vivo neonatal mouse spinal cord samples that the rate at which water exchanges across cell membranes decreases drastically after perturbation known to induce persistent membrane depolarization. We also show that the exchange rate recovers to normal values after perturbations known to restore membrane potential.
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