This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Shigeta, K. Articles by Omoto, K. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Shigeta, K. Articles by Omoto, K.

Endothelial Cell Injury and Platelet Aggregation Induced by Contrast Ultrasonography in the Rat Hepatic Sinusoid

Departments of Clinical Laboratory Medicine (K.S., K.I., N.T., K.O.) and Anatomy (S.O.), Jichi Medical School, Tochigi-ken, Japan. Revised May 15, 2003. Revised manuscript accepted for publication August 26, 2003.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Kouichirou Shigeta, MD, Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Jichi Medical School, 3311-1 Yakushiji, Minamikawachi-machi, Kawachi-gun, Tochigi-ken 329-0498, Japan. E-mail: shigeta{at}jichi.ac.jp.

Objective. To determine whether contrast ultrasonography can affect the sinusoidal cells and platelets of the liver by using ultrastructural analysis in vivo. Methods. Fifteen Wistar rats were placed into the following 5 groups of 3 rats each: 3 control groups comprising a sham operation group, a contrast agent injection-alone group, and an ultrasound exposure-alone group; and 2 contrast agent injection with ultrasound exposure groups, split according to excision time. After a dose of an echo contrast agent (100 mg/kg of body weight) was administered through the femoral vein, the rats that received injections were subjected to ultrasound for the first minute, no ultrasound for the next 4 minutes, and then ultrasound sweep scanning for 10 seconds. The rats were perfused via the heart with cold physiologic saline containing 2% paraformaldehyde and 2.5% glutaraldehyde solution buffered with 0.1-mol/L phosphate. The livers of the rats in 4 of the groups were excised immediately. The livers of the rats in 1 of the 2 contrast agent with ultrasound exposure groups were excised by the same procedure 5 hours after they received the injections. All specimens were studied with light and electron microscopy. Results. Platelet aggregation and injury to endothelial cells were more severe in the contrast agent injection and ultrasound exposure groups than in the other groups. Conclusions. Contrast ultrasonography can cause platelet aggregation and endothelial cell damage in the rat hepatic sinusoid.

Key Words: echo contrast agents • endothelial cells • hepatic sinusoid • platelet aggregation • rat • safety • ultrasound

Abbreviations: MI, mechanical index • USE, ultrasound exposure

This article has been cited by other articles:

				D. L. Miller, M. A. Averkiou, A. A. Brayman, E. C. Everbach, C. K. Holland, J. H. Wible Jr, and J. Wu Bioeffects Considerations for Diagnostic Ultrasound Contrast Agents J. Ultrasound Med., April 1, 2008; 27(4): 611 - 632. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Greenbaum, P. Burns, J. Copel, D. Cosgrove, J. B. Fowlkes, B. Goldberg, R. Mattrey, D. Merton, M. Robbin, and S. Wilson American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine Recommendations for Contrast-Enhanced Liver Ultrasound Imaging Clinical Trials J. Ultrasound Med., June 1, 2007; 26(6): 705 - 716. [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Shigeta, K. Itoh, S. Ookawara, N. Taniguchi, and K. Omoto The Effects of Levovist and DD-723 in Activating Platelets and Damaging Hepatic Cells of Rats J. Ultrasound Med., July 1, 2005; 24(7): 967 - 974. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]