title: An ultrasound and histomorphological analysis of experimental liver cirrhosis in rats.
abstract: We investigated whether liver injury by dual exposure to ethanol and carbon tetrachloride (EtOH + CCl4) for 15 weeks would persist after hepatotoxic agents were removed (EtOH + CCl4/8wR). After 15 weeks of hepatic injury with ethanol (5.5%, m/v) and carbon tetrachloride (0.05, mL/kg, ip), 5 of 11 female Wistar rats were sacrificed. The other 6 rats were maintained for an additional 8 weeks without hepatotoxic agents. Ultrasonography showed increased liver echogenicity and dilation of portal vein caliber in both groups (EtOH + CCl4: 0.22 +/- 0.01 cm, P < 0.001; EtOH + CCl4/8wR: 0.21 +/- 0.02 cm, P < 0.01) vs control (0.16 +/- 0.02 cm). Histopathology showed regenerative nodules in both experimental groups. Histomorphometry revealed increased fibrosis content in both groups (EtOH + CCl4: 12.6 +/- 2.64%, P < 0.001; EtOH + CCl4/8wR: 10.4 +/- 1.36%, P < 0.05) vs control (2.2 +/- 1.21%). Collagen types I and III were increased in groups EtOH + CCl4 (collagen I: 2.5 +/- 1.3%, P < 0.01; collagen III: 1.3 +/- 0.2%, P < 0.05) and EtOH + CCl4/8wR (collagen I: 1.8 +/- 0.06%, P < 0.05; collagen III: 1.5 +/- 0.8%, P < 0.01) vs control (collagen I: 0.38 +/- 0.11%; collagen III: 0.25 +/- 0.06%). Tissue transglutaminase increased in both groups (EtOH + CCl4: 66.4 +/- 8%, P < 0.01; EtOH + CCl4/8wR: 58.8 +/- 21%, P < 0.01) vs control (7.9 +/- 0.8%). Cirrhosis caused by the association of CCl4-EtOH remained for at least 8 weeks after removal of these hepatotoxic agents. Ultrasound images can be a useful tool to evaluate advanced hepatic alterations.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Clínica Médica, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Paredes
authors.forename: L F Q
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Mesquita
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: E O
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Kozlowski
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Lessa
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Takiya
authors.forename: C M C
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Resende
authors.forename: H S M
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Coelho
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Campos-de-Carvalho
authors.forename: G F M
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Rezende
authors.forename: R C S
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Goldenberg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride / Q000633:toxicity; D000431:Ethanol / Q000633:toxicity; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D008106:Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D051381:Rats; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride