[Changes in serum Cu2+ and indexes for liver pathology and biochemistry before and after copper needle retained in central vein of rabbit ears].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the changes in the serum Cu2+ and the indexes for the liver pathology and biochemistry before and after the copper needle retained in the central veins of the rabbit ears.


METHODS
Forty-nine New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into 5 groups: Group A (copper needles retained for 1 d), Group B (3 d), Group C (5 d), Group D (7 d), and Group E (the control group, without any copper needles retained). In each experimental group, there were 10 rabbits, and in the control group there were 9 rabbits. The rabbits in each group were arranged to have their venous blood drawn for determination of the Cu2+ concentration, and for observation on the changes in the liver biochemical indexes for 5 times before and after the copper needles were retained in the central veins of the rabbit ears. At the same time, a piece of the liver tissue in each rabbit was taken for examination of the pathological changes. All the liver samples were given the basic pathological examination; if the liver sample had some extraordinary pathological features, the specific pathological examination would be given, even using the transmission electron microscope.


RESULTS
After the copper needles were retained in the central veins of the rabbit ears, the Cu2+ concentration increased with the passing time. The concentrations in the groups were 1. 40+/-0.49 microg/ml in Group A, 1.45+/-0.53 microg/ml in Group B, 2.01+/-0.40 microg/ml in Group C, 2.38+/-0.83 microg/ml in Group D, and 1.34+/-0.45 microg/ml in Group E, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between Group D and Group E (P<0.05). There were no significant changes in the ALT and AST levels when compared with those before the copper needles were retained (P>0.05); however, there was a considerably positive correlation on 1st day (r=0.686, P<0.05), 5th day (r=0.712, P<0.05), and 7th day (r=0.768, P<0.01) when compared with those after the copper needles were retained. The histological examination showed that aseptic inflammation subsided with the time in part of the liver. The Masson staining and the Ag staining showed that there were no obvious changes in the hepatic lobules, with no fibrosis of the liver tissues found under light microscope.


CONCLUSIONS
There are no obvious toxic and side effects on the rabbit liver after the copper needles are retained in its central veins.
Yang
Xiaonan
X
Department of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning Guangxi, China. yxnan@yahoo.com.cn
Yin
Guoqian
G
Zheng
Chengjie
C
D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood; D004431:Ear, External / Q000098:blood supply*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000628:therapy*; D007477:Ions; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009339:Needles; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation; D013997:Time Factors; D014680:Veins / Q000473:pathology
D015415:Biomarkers; D007477:Ions; D003300:Copper; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase