Hepatic 31P MRS in rat models of chronic liver disease: assessing the extent and progression of disease.
BACKGROUND
Hepatic adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels are an accurate reflection of functioning hepatic mass following surgical resections and acute liver injury.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether hepatic ATP levels can serve as a non-invasive means of documenting progression of chronic liver disease to cirrhosis.


METHODS
In vivo phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((31)P MRS) was performed in three animal models of chronic liver disease. Sixty six adult Sprague- Dawley rats were subjected to either thioacetamide, carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)), or common bile duct ligation (CBDL) to induce liver disease (n=35, 21, and 10, respectively). Serial MRS examinations, blood samples, and liver biopsies (when appropriate) were obtained throughout and/or on completion of the study.


RESULTS
Over the course of the chronic liver disease, a progressive decrease in hepatic ATP levels was consistently observed in each model. The findings were most striking when end stage liver disease (cirrhosis) was established. The reduction in hepatic ATP levels correlated with significant changes in serum albumin concentrations (CCl(4) and CBDL models) and the extent of hepatocyte loss seen histologically (all models).


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study indicate that during progression of chronic liver disease to cirrhosis, there is a progressive reduction in hepatic ATP levels. In addition, changes in hepatic ATP levels correlate with changes in liver function and histology. Thus hepatic (31)P MRS provides a non-invasive means of documenting the severity and progression of parenchymal and cholestatic models of chronic liver disease in rats.
Corbin
I R
IR
Section of Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
Buist
R
R
Peeling
J
J
Zhang
M
M
Uhanova
J
J
Minuk
G Y
GY
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001835:Body Weight; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018450:Disease Progression; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D010758:Phosphorus; D010766:Phosphorylation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis
D012709:Serum Albumin; D010758:Phosphorus; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases