[1-(13)C] breath test of galactose and fructose for quantitative liver function.
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]fructose or [1-(13)C]galactose.


METHODS
Under nembutal anesthesia, 100 mg/kg of [1-(13)C]fructose or [1-(13)C]galactose was administered to rats via the femoral vein, and expiratory (13)CO(2) levels were measured for 120 min. Then, 30, 70, or 90% hepatectomy was performed. In the control group, simple laparotomy was performed. A breath test was conducted 20 min after laparotomy. We examined the correlation of a single point (13)CO(2) level (SP) every 5 min until 30 min, and at 45 and 60 min with liver wt/body wt (LW/BW) (%).


RESULTS
In the control group and all groups undergoing hepatectomy, the [1-(13)C]fructose breath test graph reached a plateau level at about 25 min. In the control group, the [1-(13)C]galactose 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 SP(5) after [1-(13)C]fructose administration and LW/BW was the highest, 0.656 (P = 0.0017). The correlation coefficient between SP(25) after [1-(13)C]galactose administration and LW/BW was the highest, 0.923 (P < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
In the breath test with intravenously administered [1-(13)C]fructose, hepatopathy could not be quantitatively evaluated accurately. However, hepatopathy could be quantitatively evaluated accurately by measuring SP(25) in the breath test with intravenously administered [1-(13)C]galactose over a short period.
Suzuki
S
S
Department of Pharmacology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 173, 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 / Q000379:methods*; D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D005632:Fructose / Q000032:analysis*; D005690:Galactose / Q000032:analysis*; D006498:Hepatectomy; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008111:Liver Function Tests / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D005632:Fructose; D005690:Galactose