Application of spectroscopy (¹HMRS) to assess liver metabolite concentrations in rats with intrauterine growth restriction

Abstract

Objective: Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H-MRS) measurement of liver metabolism in intrauterine growth restriction rats has seldom been reported. This study investigated the application of ¹H-MRS in assessing liver metabolism in newborn pups that experienced intrauterine growth restriction.

Methods: Intra-uterine growth restriction was established by feeding rats low-protein diets during pregnancy. Newborn pups received conventional magnetic resonance imaging and ¹H-MRS using a 3.0T whole body MR scanner at 3, 8 and 12 weeks post birth.

Results: The success rate of ¹H-MRS was 83.33%. Significantly lower body weight, BMI and body length at 3 weeks as well as significantly lower body weight, BMI and waist circumference at 8 and 12 weeks were observed in newborn pups of IUGR rats compared with pups of control rats. Significant differences in ACho/H₂O, ACr/H₂O, AGlx/H₂O and ALipid/H₂O at 3 and 8 weeks as well as significant differences in ACr/H₂O, ALipid/H₂O and AGlx/H₂O at 12 weeks were observed between pups of control rats and pups of IUGR rats.

Conclusion: ¹H-MRS allows noninvasive assessment of liver metabolism in the rat and demonstrated the poor liver development of rats that experienced IUGR.

Keywords:

• Intrauterine growth retardation
• liver metabolism
• proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Declaration of interest

All authors declared no conflict of interest. This study was supported by Grants from Hunan Science and Technology Department Project, China (2013FJ4074).