title: The Dimethylnitrosamine Induced Liver Fibrosis Model in the Rat.
abstract: Four to six week old, male Wistar rats were used to produce animal models of liver fibrosis. The process requires four weeks of administration of 10 mg/kg dimethylnitrosamine (DMN), given intraperitoneally for three consecutive days per week. Intraperitoneal injections were performed in the fume hood as DMN is a known hepatoxin and carcinogen. The model has several advantages. Firstly, liver changes can be studied sequentially or at particular stages of interest. Secondly, the stage of liver disease can be monitored by measurement of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) enzymes. Thirdly, the severity of liver damage at different stages can be confirmed by sacrifice of animals at designated time points, followed by histological examination of Masson's Trichome stained liver tissues. After four weeks of DMN dosing, the typical fibrosis score is 5 to 6 on the Ishak scale. The model can be reproduced consistently and has been widely used to assess the efficacy of potential anti-fibrotic agents.
authors.affiliation: Technology Development, School of Applied Science, Temasek Polytechnic; chooikf@tp.edu.sg.
authors.forename: Kum Fai
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Chooi
authors.affiliation: Technology Development, School of Applied Science, Temasek Polytechnic.
authors.forename: Dinesh Babu
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Kuppan Rajendran
authors.affiliation: Technology Development, School of Applied Science, Temasek Polytechnic.
authors.forename: Siew Siang Gary
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Phang
authors.affiliation: Technology Development, School of Applied Science, Temasek Polytechnic.
authors.forename: Han Hui Alden
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Toh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004128:Dimethylnitrosamine; D008099:Liver; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis; D008107:Liver Diseases; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D004128:Dimethylnitrosamine