1H NMR approach to observe tissue oxygenation with the signals of myoglobin.

The myoglobin technique measures oxygen tension in myocytes. It relies on a quantitative measurement of the Val E11 and His F8 signals and an accurate value for the [O2]50 for Mb. Even though the Mb oxygen affinity in the cell is in question, the NMR results still reflect the degree of Mb oxygen saturation. Although magnetic resonance has established a variety of strategies to measure tissue oxygenation, the Mb approach is the most direct and will lead to a better understanding of oxygen's role in regulating cellular activity.