Effect of ethanol on rabbit liver evaluated using in vivo P-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Abstract

Changes in metabolic state of rabbit livers after administration of ethanol was evaluated using in vivo P-31 magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy. Targets were five normal control (NC) rabbits and four with chronically carbontetrachloride-damaged livers. A 1.5 Tesla whole-body MR imager was used for measurement. Two ml/kg of 50% ethanol solution was injected intravenously within about 1 minute. The inorganic phosphate peak decreased immediately after the injection. After ten minutes, it had dropped to 60% in the NC group and 85% in the damaged-liver group. The difference was statistically significant (p<0.05) and reflected differences in liver function of ethanol metabolism. The β-ATP peak decreased to 90% over 30 minutes in the NC group but there was little change in the damaged-liver group. There was almost no change in phosphomonoester in the NC group, but a slight increase was observed in the rabbits with damaged livers. No significant cytosolic pH variation was noted after ethanol injection in both NC and damaged liver.