Experimental study on quantitative analysis of fatty liver by computed tomography in rabbit

ABSTRACT

For the study of correlation of CT number and fatty content of the liver, total 35 rabbits were used. Therabbits were divided into one control and three experimental groups according to the amount of carbonetetra choloride, administered 1ml, 2ml and 3ml per kg lf body weight respectively. The carbone tetrachloride wasadministered via intragastric route. CT was performed 72 hours following administration of carbone tetrachloride,and immediately prior to CT scan each rabbit was anesthetized by means of IM injection of ketamine and IV injection of succinylcholine to stop motion and respiration. CT numbers were measured and histological study forthe deposition of fat in the liver tissue was done. Also biochemical analysis of lipid in the blood and in theextraction of liver tissue was performed. Comparison of CT number with biochemical and histological data was done.The results were as follows 1. In each experimental group, the degree of accumulation of fat in the liver was proportional to the amount of carbone tetrachloride. 2. Degree of decreaseing CT number was correlated with theincrease in the accumlation of fat in the liver. 3. In the control and experimental (1,2,3) groups, when theamount of carbone tetrachloride increased, the amount of total lipid, cholesterol and triglyceride on biochemical analysis of the liver increased. Also increase in the amount of plasma lipids on biochemical analysis and a greatdegree of increase in accumulation of fat in the liver on histological examination were see. But no changes in theamounts of phospholipid and protein on biochemical analysis of the liver were noticed. 4. Increase in the amountof total lipid could make a change in the CT number of the liver remakably(r=−0.63). As the amount of cholesteroland triglyceride increased, the CT number of the liver decreased (r=−0.61 and r=−0.76 respectively). But there wasno significant correlation between the amount of protein and phospholipid and the degree of decrease in CT number.5. Mean values of CT number in normal, grade 1, grade 2, grade 3 and grade 4 according to the degree ofhistological changes were 67.46±2.24, 58.53±3.06, 49.43±6.91, 39.49±9.69, 20.62±8.04 respectively. Thereduction of CT number was correlated with the accumulation of fat on histological examination.