| Classically, investigation of the internal morphology and composition of molluscs and especially bivalves relies on destructive method (biometry, biochemistry and histology). These techniques have given essential information, but in contrast are time consuming and lead to the irreversible loss of the animal while they don't allow integration of the various levels of molecular-to-organism functioning. The aim of this study is to analyze for the first time the potential of NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) imaging (MRI) to depict, with sufficient resolution and satisfactory contrast, the anatomy of a bivalve model, the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas, without opening it. MRI experiments were carried out at 19 °C in several non-anaesthetized adult Pacific... |
