Induced Hepatic Fibrosis in Rats: Hepatic Steatosis, Macromolecule Content, Perfusion Parameters, and Their Correlations—Preliminary MR Imaging in Rats1

Purpose: To prospectively evaluate magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for the characterization of liver fibrosis by estimating fat and extracellular matrix content and hepatic perfusion parameters in CCl 4 -treated rats. Materials and Methods: The animal research protocol was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. Fifty-two rats (38 treated, 14 control) were included. A CCl 4 mixture was injected three times per week for 2–16 weeks. Fat-to-water ratios (FWRs) were calculated. Images were obtained with 12 saturation offset frequencies; magnetization transfer ratios (MTRs) were calculated. Distribution volume (DV), mean transit time (MTT), and portal fraction (PF) of blood inflow were calculated. For pairwise group comparisons, an unequal two-tailed Student t test was used. For pairwise correlations between variables, Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated. For multiple pairwise comparisons, Bonferroni correction was performed by adjusting the significance level (α). Results: FWR and DV were correlated with CCl 4 treatment duration from 0 through 8 weeks ( r = 0.658, P < .001 and r = −0.664, P < .001, respectively; α = .010). PF and MTT were correlated with CCl 4 treatment duration from 0 through 16 weeks ( r = −0.483, P = .002 and r = 0.414, P = .008, respectively; α = .010). DV was inversely correlated with FWR over the same period ( r = −0.581, P < .001; α = .007). Fibrotic rats without cirrhosis had a higher FWR and lower DV and PF ( P < .001, P < .001, and P = .004, respectively; α = .017) than control rats, and lower MTR, DV, and MTT ( P = .014, .001, and .010, respectively; α = .017) than cirrhotic rats. Cirrhotic rats had a higher FWR and a lower PF ( P < .001, α = .017) than control rats. Conclusion: Magnetization transfer contrast is not a specific indicator of increased fibrosis in diseased liver; steatosis may influence some perfusion parameters. © RSNA, 2008