An ultrasound and histomorphological analysis of experimental liver cirrhosis in rats

An ultrasound and histomorphological analysis of experimental liver cirrhosis in rats

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 fe...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Brazilian journal of medical and biological research Vol. 41; no. 11; pp. 992 - 999
Main Authors: Dias, J V, Paredes, B D, Mesquita, L F Q, Carvalho, A B, Kozlowski, E O, Lessa, A S, Takiya, C M, Resende, C M C, Coelho, H S M, Campos-de-Carvalho, A C, Rezende, G F M, Goldenberg, R C S
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Brazil Associação Brasileira de Divulgação Científica 01-11-2008
Subjects:
Animals
BIOLOGY
Carbon Tetrachloride - toxicity
CCl4
Cirrhosis
Collagen
Ethanol
Ethanol - toxicity
Female
Fluorescent Antibody Technique
Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental - chemically induced
Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental - diagnostic imaging
Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental - pathology
MEDICINE, RESEARCH & EXPERIMENTAL
Rat
Rats
Ultrasonography
Ultrasound
Cirrhosis
Rat
Ethanol
Ultrasound
Collagen
CCl4
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Summary: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.
ISSN:0100-879X
1414-431X
1414-431X
0100-879X
DOI:10.1590/S0100-879X2008001100008