In vivo 1H MR spectroscopy in the evaluation of the serial development of hepatocarcinogenesis in an experimental rat model.
OBJECTIVE
We used a 1.5-T MR scanner to investigate in vivo hydrogen 1 ((1)H) MRS to evaluate metabolic changes in the hepatocarcinogenesis experimental rat model.


METHODS
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was induced by diethylnitrosamine in 70 treated rats with 20 normal rats used as controls. Single-voxel (1)H MRS is performed to obtained the relative choline-to-lipid (Cho/lipid) ratio. The liver and tumor tissues are incised for the histologic examination. Based on the histologic result, the progression of hepatocarcinogenesis of the animal model was divided into three stages: fibrosis stage, cirrhosis stage, and HCC stage. The mean (+/-SD) ratio values are calculated and compared at various stages between the treated group and the control group.


RESULTS
In control group, the calculated mean (+/-SD) Cho/lipid ratio was 0.15 +/- 0.05. With the progression of hepatocarcinogenesis, the Cho/lipid ratio increased significantly, to 0.18 +/- 0.05, 0.24 +/- 0.07, and 0.38 +/- 0.19, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The (1)H MRS is technically feasible for evaluation of the metabolic changes in the animal model. A significant increase in choline-containing compounds level was observed in the HCC stage in the treated group.
Xu
Hui
H
Department of Radiology, Peking University Third Hospital, 49 North Garden Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100083, P. R. China.
Li
Xuan
X
Yang
Zheng-han
ZH
Xie
Jing-xia
JX
D000477:Alkylating Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D000818:Animals; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology*; D002794:Choline / Q000032:analysis*; D004052:Diethylnitrosamine / Q000009:adverse effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000473:pathology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D000477:Alkylating Agents; D008055:Lipids; D004052:Diethylnitrosamine; D002794:Choline