Responses to membrane potential-modulating ionic solutions measured by magnetic resonance imaging of cultured cells and in vivo rat cortex

Membrane potential plays a crucial role in various cellular functions. However, existing techniques for measuring membrane potential are often invasive or have limited recording depth. In contrast, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers noninvasive imaging with desirable spatial resolution over large areas. This study investigates the feasibility of utilizing MRI to detect responses of cultured cells and in vivo rat cortex to membrane potential-modulating ionic solutions by measuring magnetic resonance parameters. Our findings reveal that depolarizing (or hyperpolarizing) ionic solutions increase (or decrease) the T2 relaxation time, while the ratio of bound to free water proton shows the opposite trend. These findings also suggest a potential approach to noninvasively detect changes in membrane potential using MRI.