title: Transient micro-elastography: A novel non-invasive approach to measure liver stiffness in mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop and validate a transient micro-elastography device to measure liver stiffness (LS) in mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  A novel transient micro-elastography (TME) device, dedicated to LS measurements in mice with a range of measurement from 1-170 kPa, was developed using an optimized vibration frequency of 300 Hz and a 2 mm piston. The novel probe was validated in a classical fibrosis model (CCl(4)) and in a transgenic murine model of systemic amyloidosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TME could be successfully performed in control mice below the xiphoid cartilage, with a mean LS of 4.4 ± 1.3 kPa, a mean success rate of 88%, and an excellent intra-observer agreement (0.98). Treatment with CCl(4) over seven weeks drastically increased LS as compared to controls (18.2 ± 3.7 kPa vs 3.6 ± 1.2 kPa). Moreover, fibrosis stage was highly correlated with LS (Spearman coefficient = 0.88, P < 0.01). In the amyloidosis model, much higher LS values were obtained, reaching maximum values of > 150 kPa. LS significantly correlated with the amyloidosis index (0.93, P < 0.0001) and the plasma concentration of mutant hapoA-II (0.62, P < 0.005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Here, we have established the first non-invasive approach to measure LS in mice, and have successfully validated it in two murine models of high LS.
authors: Echosens, Research and Development Department, Paris, France. cecile.bastard@echosens.com
authors: Cécile
authors: C
authors: Bastard
authors: Matteo R
authors: MR
authors: Bosisio
authors: Michèle
authors: M
authors: Chabert
authors: Athina D
authors: AD
authors: Kalopissis
authors: Meriem
authors: M
authors: Mahrouf-Yorgov
authors: Hélène
authors: H
authors: Gilgenkrantz
authors: Sebastian
authors: S
authors: Mueller
authors: Laurent
authors: L
authors: Sandrin
mesh_terms: D000686:Amyloidosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride / Q000633:toxicity; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride