Assessment of Metabolism in the Regenerating Mouse Liver by 31P MRSI

Khushali Kotedia¹, Jadegoud Yaligar¹, Kaitlyn Kelly², Joyce Wong², Jason A. Koutcher¹, Yuman Fong², Kristen L. Zakian¹

Levels of ³¹P metabolites in the mouse liver following partial hepatectomy (70% PH) were quantitated by ³¹P magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) to determine whether ³¹P metabolites were non-invasive markers of regenerative status. In each of the 2 phases of this study, the mean NTP level decreased after PH but did not differ significantly from controls. Significant changes in PME and/or PE and PC were not observed. SNR limitations due to the very small liver remnant volume as well as inter-subject heterogeneity may have resulted in statistical uncertainty that obscured the detection of metabolic changes.