Long-term observation of in vivo 31P NMR spectra in carbon tetrachloride-intoxicated rabbit liver using implanted wireless surface coil.

Phosphorus-31 NMR spectra in rabbit liver were successively observed for more than 5 months in a chronic CCl4 intoxication model using implanted wireless surface coils. The quality of the obtained NMR spectra was satisfactory and there was sufficient time resolution to follow the dynamic changes that occurred during a fructose tolerance test. The implanted coil did not lead to any serious adverse effects such as infection or liver dysfunction. During an 18-week administration of CCl4, the area of the phosphodiester peak significantly decreased. The ratio of P(i)/beta-ATP was transiently elevated and gradually returned to the control level. In the fructose tolerance test, the increase in phosphomonoester and the decrease in P(i) and beta-ATP after i.v. fructose loading were apparent, but the degrees in these changes became smaller during the CCl4 intoxication. This wireless surface coil was useful for consecutive and non-invasive 31P NMR observations of the liver to follow chronically treated animal models over a period of several months.