Crj. Mladinich et al., EFFECTS OF CARBON-DIOXIDE ARTERIAL INFUSION ON HEPATIC BIOCHEMISTRY AND HISTOLOGY IN A RABBIT MODEL, Investigative radiology, 30(3), 1995, pp. 192-195
RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES. The objective of this study was to determine
the effect of carbon dioxide (CO2) infusion on hepatic biochemistry a
nd histology in a rabbit model. METHODS. The study population consiste
d of 24 anesthetized rabbits that received hepatic infusion of either
CO2 or saline (control) at doses of 10 mL/kg, comparable with those do
ses used in human clinical trials. Blood for clinical chemistry analys
is was collected at baseline, 1 hour, 24 hours, and 168 hours (7 days)
postprocedure. The rabbits were killed at 7 days postprocedure and th
e liver examined histologically for hepatic damage. RESULTS. There wer
e no significant differences between the CO2 and the control groups in
dorsal, ventral, and dorsal/ventral scores. Increases in alanine, an
important indicator of hepatocellular membrane injury, in the CO2 grou
p were significantly greater at 1 hour and 24 hours posttreatment (P =
0.037 and 0.013). However, the mean levels at 168 hours (7 days) were
not significantly different (P = 0.22). The increases at 1 and 24 hou
rs were small, transient, and considered clinically insignificant. CON
CLUSION. No long-term hepatic effects in these animals were suggested
by biochemical and histological examinations.