31P Magnetic Resonance of Intact Endocrine Tissue: Adrenal Glands of Dogs

Abstract

Intact dog adrenal glands were examined for their phosphate profiles in the ³¹P nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer at 36.43 MHz at 31°, and the resultant spectra were compared to those obtained from perchloric acid extracts of the same endocrine tissue. The adrenal gland presents a unique organ for whole tissue spectroscopy in that its phosphate profile shows a number of features which have not been previously observed in similar phosphate profiles obtained from other intact tissue preparations. A number of prominant resonances are observed in the intact adrenal gland which arise from phosphorus-containing substances that are not extractable with perchloric acid. The ³¹P shifts of these resonances indicate that they may arise from phosphorylated proteins and membrane phospholipids.