[1-(13)C]Galactose breath test for quantitative measurement of liver function in a short period.
BACKGROUND
Using a rat model of hepatectomy, we investigated whether the severity of hepatopathy could be quantitatively measured from changes in expiratory (13)CO(2) levels after intravenous administration of [1-(13)C]galactose.


METHODS
Under nembutal anesthesia, 100 mg/kg [1-(13)C]galactose was administered to rats via the femoral vein, and expiratory (13)CO(2) levels were measured for 60 min. Then, 30, 70 or 90% hepatectomy was performed. In the control group, simple laparotomy was performed. Breath test was conducted 20 min after laparotomy. We examined the correlation of total (13)CO(2) output (S) or single point (13)CO(2) level (SP) every 5 min until 30 min, and at 45 and 60 min with liver weight/body weight (LW/BW) (%).


RESULTS
In the control group, the breath test graph reached a plateau level, but in all groups undergoing hepatectomy a plateau level was not reached during measurement. The correlation coefficient between S(30) after [1-(13)C]galactose administration and LW/BW was 0.889 (p< 0.0001). The correlation coefficient between SP(25) after [1-(13)C]galactose administration and LW/BW was highest, 0.923 (p< 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
In the breath test with intravenously administered [1-(13)C]galactose, hepatopathy could be evaluated by measuring S(30) and hepatopathy could be more accurately quantitatively evaluated by measuring SP(25) over a short period.
Suzuki
S
S
Department of Pharmacology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Ishii
Y
Y
Asai
S
S
Kohno
T
T
Mazaki
T
T
Takahashi
Y
Y
Iwai
S
S
Ishikawa
K
K
D000818:Animals; D001944:Breath Tests; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005690:Galactose / Q000378:metabolism*; D006498:Hepatectomy; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008111:Liver Function Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D005690:Galactose