Value of the gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging on oxaliplatin-induced liver function injury in C57BL/6 mice

Abstract

Objective To investigate the value of gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on oxaliplatin-induced liver function injury in C57BL/6 mice. Methods Forty male and six weeks old C57BL/6 mice without specific pathogens were included and the body weght ranged from 19 to 23 g. They were randomly assigned into control group, experimental group A, experimental group B and experimental group C (10 mice/group). The mice in the control group was intraperitoneally injected with saline solution. The mice in the experimental groups were intraperitoneally injected with oxaliplatin twice a week. The experimental group A, B and C were administered for 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 6 weeks, respectively. The T1 relaxation time on the hepatobiliary phase and the first rapid enhancement slope percentage (ESP) in liver parenchyma were measured and calculated. Serum albumin and bilirubin values were measured and albumin and bilirubin (ALBI) scores were calculated. Pathological staining was used to observe liver tissue damage and fibrosis. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve evaluated the ALBI score, ESP and T1 relaxation time on hepatobiliary phase for the diagnosis of liver function. Results Sixteen mice in the experimental groups (including group A, B and C) were included in the hepatic degeneration group (hepatocyte degeneration without fibrosis). Fourteen mice were included in the hepatic fibrosis group. T1 relaxation time on hepatobiliary phase in the hepatic fibrosis group was higher than that in the control group and in the hepatic degeneration group. The differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). The ESP of the control group, the hepatic degeneration group and the hepatic fibrosis group was increased, with statistically significant differences (all P<0.05). Compared with the control group, ALBI scores of the hepatic degeneration group and the hepatic fibrosis group were both decreased, with statistically significant differences (P<0.05). In the hepatic fibrosis group, the areas under the curve of ALBI scores, the T1 relaxation time on hepatobiliary phase and the ESP were 0.734, 0.962 and 0.989, respectively. Conclusion The T1 relaxation time on hepatobiliary phase and the ESP of gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI can effectively evaluate the hepatic function reduction induced by oxaliplatin-induced hepatic tissue injury in C57BL/6 mice. Key words: Magnetic resonance imaging; Gadoxetic acid; Albumin-bilirubin; Liver function