title: Contrast-enhanced micro-computed tomography using ExiTron nano6000 for assessment of liver injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the potential of contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) using ExiTron nano6000 for assessment of liver lesions in mouse models.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three mouse models of liver lesions were used: bile duct ligation (BDL), lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/D-galactosamine (D-GalN), and alcohol. After injection with the contrast agent ExiTron nano6000, the mice were scanned with micro-CT. Liver lesions were evaluated using CECT images, hematoxylin and eosin staining, and serum aminotransferase levels. Macrophage distribution in the injury models was shown by immunohistochemical staining of CD68. The in vitro studies measured the densities of RAW264.7 under different conditions by CECT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the in vitro studies, CECT provided specific and strong contrast enhancement of liver in mice. CECT could present heterogeneous images and densities of injured livers induced by BDL, LPS/D-GalN, and alcohol. The liver histology and immunochemistry of CD68 demonstrated that both dilated biliary tracts and necrosis in the injured livers could lead to the heterogeneous distribution of macrophages. The in vitro study showed that the RAW264.7 cell masses had higher densities after LPS activation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Micro-CT with the contrast agent ExiTron nano6000 is feasible for detecting various liver lesions by emphasizing the heterogeneous textures and densities of CECT images.
authors.affiliation: Xiang-Wei Hua, Tian-Fei Lu, Da-Wei Li, Jian-Jun Zhang, Qiang Xia, Department of Liver Surgery and Liver Transplantation Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China.
authors.forename: Xiang-Wei
authors.initials: XW
authors.lastname: Hua
authors.affiliation: Xiang-Wei Hua, Tian-Fei Lu, Da-Wei Li, Jian-Jun Zhang, Qiang Xia, Department of Liver Surgery and Liver Transplantation Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China.
authors.forename: Tian-Fei
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Xiang-Wei Hua, Tian-Fei Lu, Da-Wei Li, Jian-Jun Zhang, Qiang Xia, Department of Liver Surgery and Liver Transplantation Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China.
authors.forename: Da-Wei
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Xiang-Wei Hua, Tian-Fei Lu, Da-Wei Li, Jian-Jun Zhang, Qiang Xia, Department of Liver Surgery and Liver Transplantation Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China.
authors.forename: Wei-Gang
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Xiang-Wei Hua, Tian-Fei Lu, Da-Wei Li, Jian-Jun Zhang, Qiang Xia, Department of Liver Surgery and Liver Transplantation Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Xiang-Wei Hua, Tian-Fei Lu, Da-Wei Li, Jian-Jun Zhang, Qiang Xia, Department of Liver Surgery and Liver Transplantation Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China.
authors.forename: Zhen-Ze
authors.initials: ZZ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Xiang-Wei Hua, Tian-Fei Lu, Da-Wei Li, Jian-Jun Zhang, Qiang Xia, Department of Liver Surgery and Liver Transplantation Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China.
authors.forename: Wei-Wei
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Xiang-Wei Hua, Tian-Fei Lu, Da-Wei Li, Jian-Jun Zhang, Qiang Xia, Department of Liver Surgery and Liver Transplantation Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China.
authors.forename: Jian-Jun
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Xiang-Wei Hua, Tian-Fei Lu, Da-Wei Li, Jian-Jun Zhang, Qiang Xia, Department of Liver Surgery and Liver Transplantation Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Xia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000378:metabolism; D001652:Bile Ducts / Q000601:surgery; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D003287:Contrast Media; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D000431:Ethanol; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008026:Ligation; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism; D008108:Liver Diseases, Alcoholic / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D053758:Nanoparticles; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D000067996:RAW 264.7 Cells; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography; D000097382:CD68 Molecule
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D003287:Contrast Media; D000431:Ethanol; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; C081026:CD68 protein, mouse; D000097382:CD68 Molecule
keywords: ExiTron Nano6000; Liver injury; Micro-computed tomography