TY - JOUR
T1 - Mechanism of parenchymal enhancement of the liver with a microbubble-based US contrast medium
T2 - An intravital microscopy study in rats
AU - Kono, Yuko
AU - Steinbach, Gregory C.
AU - Peterson, Thomas
AU - Schmid-Schönbein, Geert W.
AU - Mattrey, Robert F.
PY - 2002
Y1 - 2002
N2 - PURPOSE: To investigate the mechanism of prolonged contrast material enhancement of the liver observed with the lipid-shell ultrasonographic (US) contrast agent AF0150, with use of intravital microscopy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight Sprague-Dawley rats were used. Six received fluoroscent microspheres to label the Kupffer cells; two were used as controls. The edge of the middle lobe of the liver was transilluminated with white light. Fluorescent microspheres were observed under fluorescence light. After injection of AF0150, behavior of microbubbles was observed for 6 minutes while viewing a single high-power field. Multiple other fields were then assessed for stationary bubbles and their relation to Kupffer cells. The number of bubbles in motion, aggregated, stationary, and associated with labeled cells were counted. RESULTS: Of 590 bubbles, 34 (5.8%) became stationary and 556 (94.2%) kept moving. Of the 34 stationary microbubbles, 21 dislodged within 30 seconds. Microbubbles were homogeneously distributed throughout the lobule, in contrast to the dominant periportal distribution of the labeled Kupffer cells. Among 83 stationary bubbles observed from all fields of view, only 14 (17%) were associated with fluorescent-labeled cells. CONCLUSION: The late parenchymal liver enhancement effect of AF0150 is likely not related to Kupffer-cell uptake, but rather to a mechanical slowdown within the sinusoids.
AB - PURPOSE: To investigate the mechanism of prolonged contrast material enhancement of the liver observed with the lipid-shell ultrasonographic (US) contrast agent AF0150, with use of intravital microscopy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight Sprague-Dawley rats were used. Six received fluoroscent microspheres to label the Kupffer cells; two were used as controls. The edge of the middle lobe of the liver was transilluminated with white light. Fluorescent microspheres were observed under fluorescence light. After injection of AF0150, behavior of microbubbles was observed for 6 minutes while viewing a single high-power field. Multiple other fields were then assessed for stationary bubbles and their relation to Kupffer cells. The number of bubbles in motion, aggregated, stationary, and associated with labeled cells were counted. RESULTS: Of 590 bubbles, 34 (5.8%) became stationary and 556 (94.2%) kept moving. Of the 34 stationary microbubbles, 21 dislodged within 30 seconds. Microbubbles were homogeneously distributed throughout the lobule, in contrast to the dominant periportal distribution of the labeled Kupffer cells. Among 83 stationary bubbles observed from all fields of view, only 14 (17%) were associated with fluorescent-labeled cells. CONCLUSION: The late parenchymal liver enhancement effect of AF0150 is likely not related to Kupffer-cell uptake, but rather to a mechanical slowdown within the sinusoids.
KW - Experimental study
KW - Liver, US
KW - Microbubbles
KW - Ultrasound (US), contrast media
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U2 - 10.1148/radiol.2241011352
DO - 10.1148/radiol.2241011352
M3 - Article
C2 - 12091692
AN - SCOPUS:0036082378
SN - 0033-8419
VL - 224
SP - 253
EP - 257
JO - RADIOLOGY
JF - RADIOLOGY
IS - 1
ER -