A. Shafik, Study of the electric activity of the liver with identification of a normal 'electrohepatogram' in a canine model, EUR J GASTR, 11(11), 1999, pp. 1239-1243
Objective The electric activity of the liver was studied in 14 mongrel dogs
, aiming at characterizing a normal electrohepatogram (EHG) that might act
as a standard for abnormal recordings in hepatic pathological conditions.
Methods Three monopolar silver-sliver chloride electrodes were sutured to t
he anterior liver surface under anaesthesia. A recording session of 60 min
was performed daily for 10 days. The effect of temporary clamping of the he
patic artery and portal vein, and of liver insult by irradiation, on the he
patic electric activity was also studied.
Results Electric waves were recorded from the three electrodes. They were m
onophasic with a positive deflection, had identical frequency and amplitude
from the three electrodes, and were reproducible when the test was repeate
d in the same animal. The mean frequency was 10.6 +/- 1.8 cycles/s and ampl
itude 63.7 +/- 11.4 mu V. Fast activity spikes and abnormal waves were not
encountered. Temporary occlusion of the hepatic artery and portal vein prod
uced irregularities in the wave frequency and amplitude; the wave dysrhythm
ia disappeared after clamp release. The EHG following liver insult by irrad
iation exhibited two patterns: silent and dysrhythmic.
Conclusion A normal EHG could be characterized in the canine model. A dysrh
ythmic pattern was produced when liver vessels were clamped and following l
iver injury. It is suggested that in liver diseases, the normal EHG pattern
is deranged and might thus act as a diagnostic tool in such conditions. Eu
r J Gastroenterol Hepatol 11:1239-1243 (C) 1999 Lippincott Williams & Wilki
ns.