title: In vivo 31P NMR studies of the hepatic response to L-ethionine in anesthetized rats.
abstract: Phosphorus-31 surface coil spectroscopy has been used to study the effects of L-ethionine administration on the hepatic metabolism of the anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rat. ATP levels were found to decrease by approximately 30% 3 to 4 hr after administration of 1 mg/g body wt of L-ethionine to the anesthetized rat by gastric gavage. ATP levels returned to control values approximately 8 hr postadministration. The relatively small decrease in ATP level was confirmed by extraction and conventional enzyme assay and is a consequence of the mode of administration of the ethionine. Hepatic inorganic phosphate levels rose concomitantly with the ATP fall. There were no significant changes in either cellular pH or Mg2+ levels as monitored by the 31P shifts of sensitive metabolites. In vivo 31P NMR spectroscopy provides a promising approach to study the effects of hepatotoxicants on cellular ATP, pH, and Mg levels.
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D005001:Ethionine / Q000633:toxicity*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008099:Liver / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008274:Magnesium / Q000032:analysis; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D008274:Magnesium; D005001:Ethionine