Utilizing Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Imaging for Evaluating Fatty Liver Disease Progression in Pre-clinical Mouse Models

Harshul Pandit; Joseph P Tinney; Yan Li; Guozhen Cui; Suping Li; Bradley B Keller; Robert C G Martin 2nd

doi:10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2018.10.011

Utilizing Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Imaging for Evaluating Fatty Liver Disease Progression in Pre-clinical Mouse Models

Ultrasound Med Biol. 2019 Feb;45(2):549-557. doi: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2018.10.011. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Authors

Harshul Pandit¹, Joseph P Tinney², Yan Li³, Guozhen Cui³, Suping Li³, Bradley B Keller⁴, Robert C G Martin 2nd⁵

Affiliations

¹ Division of Surgical Oncology, Hiram C. Polk, Jr., MD Department of Surgery, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
² Kosair Charities Pediatric Health Research Program, Cardiovascular Innovation Institute, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
³ Division of Surgical Oncology, Hiram C. Polk, Jr., MD Department of Surgery, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
⁴ Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Kosair Charities Pediatric Health Research Program, Cardiovascular Innovation Institute, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
⁵ Division of Surgical Oncology, Hiram C. Polk, Jr., MD Department of Surgery, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky, USA. Electronic address: robert.martin@louisville.edu.

PMID: 30527843
DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2018.10.011

Abstract

We developed a protocol to investigate and optimize the application of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) to non-invasive diagnosis of progressing fatty liver disease in mouse models. Eighteen 4-wk-old male C57 L/J mice were randomly assigned to one of the three groups and placed on a control diet, high-fat diet or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis diet for the next 10 wk. After 14 wk, B-mode imaging and CEUS imaging using a VisualSonics Vevo2100 system were performed. CEUS imaging and data analysis using three different parameters-peak enhancement, wash-in rate and wash-in perfusion index-revealed a significant decrease in representative blood flow in the high-fat diet group versus controls and a further significant decrease in the non-alcoholic steatohepatitis group (p < 0.001; n = 6/group). In conclusion, compared with B-mode imaging, non-targeted CEUS imaging was more sensitive in diagnosing early-stage fatty infiltration-mediated vascularity changes in liver parenchyma and provided a more accurate steatohepatitis diagnosis in mouse models.

Keywords: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound; Fatty liver progression; Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Contrast Media*
Disease Models, Animal
Disease Progression
Image Enhancement / methods*
Liver / diagnostic imaging
Liver / pathology
Male
Mice
Mice, Inbred C57BL
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / diagnostic imaging*
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / pathology
Ultrasonography / methods*

Substances

Contrast Media