Author/Editor     Frangež, Robert; Kosec, Marjan; Sedmak, Bojan; Beravs, Katarina; Demšar, Franci; Juntes, Polona; Pogačnik, Milan; Šuput, Dušan
Title     Subchronic liver injuries caused by microcystins
Type     članek
Source     Pflugers Arch
Vol. and No.     Letnik 440, št. 5 Suppl
Publication year     2000
Volume     str. R103-4
Language     eng
Abstract     The subchronic effects of cyanobacterial lyophilizate (CL) containing microcystins on liver were investigated in female New Zeland rabbits. Sterilised CL containing microcystins was injected i.p. Liver toxicity was assessed by histological examination of liver samples. Noninvasive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of liver was also peformed in order to assess changes in the homogeneity of liver tissue. Subchronical intoxication with microcystins caused morphological changes of liver tissue that were also detected by use of MRI. Histological analysis showed that changes seen on MRI represent liver injury characterised with fatty infiltration and periportal fibrosis. This demonstrates that subchronic exposure to microcystins can lead to liver degeneration, which can easily be detected in vivo by use of MRI.
Descriptors     CYANOBACTERIA
BACTERIAL TOXINS
LIVER DISEASES
RABBITS
MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING