MRI study of the inhibitory effect of new spin traps on in vivo CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in rats

Acute CCl₄ hepatotoxicity is thought to occur as a result of free generated from the metabolism of CCl₄ in the liver. With the use of MRI it is possible to detect in vivo a CCl₄-induced edematous region surrounding the major branch of the hepatic portal vein in the right lobe. Inhibition of the CCl₄-induced response has been obtained by pretreatment with the spin trap, PBN, 30 min prior to CCl₄ exposure. The inhibitory effect of two new traps, M₃PO or methyl-DMPO, and PhM₂PO or phenyl-DMPO, on in vivo CCl₄-induced acute hepatotoxicity was investigated. Both PhM₂PO and M₃PO were found to inhibit the CCl₄-induced response at lower concentrations (0.35 M/kg body weight) than PBN (0.70 M/kg body weight). However, both M₃PO and PhM₂PO were also found to induce and edematous response at the same concentrations used for the PBN studies (0.70 M/kg body weight). PhM₂PO, at a concentration of 0.35 M/kg body weight, was 93% as efficient as PBN, at a concentration of 0.70 M/kg body weight; whereas M₃PO, at a concentration of 0.35 M/kg, was 89% as efficient as PBN at 0.70 M/kg body weight. Electron micrographs were obtained from small liver sections taken in proximity to the major branch of the hepatic portal veins of all treatment groups. The electron microscopy investigations support the MRI findings.