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DUCT: Double Resin Casting followed by Micro-Computed Tomography for 3D Liver Analysis
Published on: September 28, 2021
LIVER FUNCTION AS INFLUENCED BY THE DUCTLESS GLANDS.
1Hunterian Laboratory of Experimental Pathology, Johns Hopkins Medical School, Baltimore.
The Journal of Experimental Medicine
|October 30, 2009
Summary
Phenoltetrachlorphthalein excretion indicates liver function. Liver injury or ductless gland insufficiency, such as adrenal or pancreatic, reduces phthalein output, signaling decreased liver capacity.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Endocrinology
- Physiology
Background:
- Phenoltetrachlorphthalein is eliminated by the liver via bile.
- Normal liver phthalein excretion is consistent in dogs.
- Liver injury or dysfunction can be assessed by measuring phthalein excretion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between liver function and phenoltetrachlorphthalein excretion.
- To determine the impact of various physiological and pathological conditions on liver phthalein excretion.
Main Methods:
- Intravenous injection of phenoltetrachlorphthalein in dogs.
- Collection and extraction of phthalein from feces.
- Quantitative estimation of phthalein using a colorimeter.
- Induction of liver injury (chloroform, phosphorus) and endocrine gland insufficiency (adrenal, pancreas, parathyroid, thyroid, hypophysis).
Main Results:
- Liver injury (parenchymal or vascular) and certain endocrine insufficiencies (adrenal, pancreatic, hypophysis) significantly decrease phthalein excretion.
- The degree of phthalein excretion reduction correlates with the severity of liver injury.
- Parathyroid insufficiency did not decrease, and sometimes increased, phthalein output.
- Thyroid insufficiency showed no effect on phthalein excretion.
Conclusions:
- Phenoltetrachlorphthalein excretion serves as a sensitive indicator of liver functional capacity.
- Disturbances in ductless gland function are closely linked to altered liver function.
- This method can detect decreased liver function even without detectable histological changes.
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