1H NMR was used to monitor lactate production and clearance during hypoxemia and recovery in the rabbit brain at the relatively low magnetic-field strength of 1.89 T. An array of conventional physiological variables were recorded simultaneously with spectrum acquisition, including the electroencephalogram and electrocardiogram. The sensitivity and spectral resolution achieved at this field strength should be applicable to studies of human brain pathophysiology in the large-bore magnets now available.