title: Subchronic liver injuries caused by microcystins.
abstract: The subchronic effects of cyanobacterial lyophilizate (CL) containing microcystins on liver were investigated in female New Zealand rabbits. Sterilised CL containing microcystins was injected i.p. Liver toxicity was assessed by histological examination of liver samples. Non-invasive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of liver was also performed in order to assess changes in the homogeneity of liver tissue. Subchronical intoxication with microcystins caused morphological changes of liver tissue that were also detected by use of MRI. Histological analysis showed that changes seen on MRI represent liver injury characterised with fatty infiltration and periportal fibrosis. This demonstrates that subchronic exposure to microcystins can lead to liver degeneration, which can easily be detected in vivo by use of MRI.
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Frangez
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kosec
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sedmak
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Beravs
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Demsar
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Juntes
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pogacnik
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Suput
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; D002908:Chronic Disease; D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D052998:Microcystins; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; D011817:Rabbits; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D052998:Microcystins; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; C078588:microcystin