In vivo imaging of hepatic hemodynamics and light scattering property during ischemia-reperfusion in rats based on spectrocolorimetry.

A red-green-blue camera-based imaging method is proposed for estimating spatial maps of concentrations of oxyhemoglobin (CHbO), deoxyhemoglobin (CHbR), total hemoglobin (CHbT), tissue oxygen saturation (StO2), and scattering power (b) in liver tissue. Hemodynamic responses to hepatic ischemia-reperfusion of in vivo rat liver tissues induced by portal triad occlusion were evaluated. Upon portal triad occlusion, this method yielded images of decreased CHbO, CHbT, StO2, and b, and increased CHbR followed by a progressive increase in CHbO and StO2 during reperfusion. Time courses of the changes in CHbO, CHbR, CHbT, and StO2 over different regions of interest (ROIs) revealed that ischemia results in an abrupt significant (P<0.05) reduction in CHbO, CHbT, and StO2 with a simultaneous increase in CHbR compared to the baseline level, indicative of the hemodynamic responses during hepatic ischemia-reperfusion. Upon reperfusion, there was a gradual increase in CHbO and StO2, and decrease in CHbR. The change in average scattering power b implies the presence of morphological alterations in the cellular and subcellular structures induced by ischemia or anoxia. This study shows the potential of monitoring spatiotemporal changes in hemodynamic parameters and morphological changes in studies of hepatic pathophysiology.