J Korean Med Sci.  2019 Jan;34(2):e14. 10.3346/jkms.2019.34.e14.

Feasibility and Stability of Liver Biopsy before Treatment for Preclinical Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Studies

• Chae YJ
• Jun DW
• Saeed WK
• Kang HT
• Oh JH
• Lee SM
• Jang K

• KMID: 2440161
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2019.34.e14

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The heterogeneity of histological findings in preclinical diet-induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) animal models is highly challenging. Here, we aimed to evaluate the feasibility and stability of repeated liver biopsy in NAFLD animal models.
METHODS
Heterogeneity of diet-induced NAFLD was evaluated at different time points in 52 high-fat diet (HFD), 35 methionine choline-deficiency diet (MCD), and 166 western diet (WD) induced NAFLD mice. Serial liver biopsies (left lateral, right medial, and left medial lobes) were performed monthly for up to 3 months. Mortality rates and changes in food intake, body weight, and liver enzymes were assessed.
RESULTS
At 12 weeks, of the HFD animals, 14% and 30% did not develop steatosis and lobular inflammation, respectively; of the MCD animals, 7% did not develop lobular inflammation; and of the WD animals, 14% and 51% did not develop steatosis and lobular inflammation, respectively. The mortality rate of repeated liver biopsy was 1.62% (2/123 mice died). Repeated liver biopsy can be used to trace disease progression. Although body weight, food intake, and liver enzymes slightly changed after biopsy, all recovered within a week. Repeated liver biopsy did not affect the degrees of inflammation and steatosis of the other liver lobes.
CONCLUSION
The diet-induced NAFLD models were quite heterogeneous. Our results suggest that the repeated liver biopsy before treatment was applicable and stable in this NAFLD animal study.

Keyword

Animal Model; Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; Biopsy

MeSH Terms

Animals
Biopsy*
Body Weight
Diet
Diet, High-Fat
Diet, Western
Disease Progression
Eating
Inflammation
Liver*
Methionine
Mice
Models, Animal
Mortality
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease*
Population Characteristics
Methionine