[Effect of copper and copper binding protein on the CT attenuation value of liver: experimental study in rats]

We analyzed the effect of copper and copper binding protein on CT attenuation value in a rat model. CT attenuation values of the liver were compared with hepatic copper content and grade of orcein-positive granules, which are thought to be a counterpart of polymerized methalothionein in lysosomes. The difference between hepatic copper and CT attenuation value was not statistically significant (R = 0.056, p = 0.96). CT value had a positive correlation with the grade of orcein-positive granules (Rho = 0.755, p = 0.0001). We concluded that the CT attenuation value of liver can be elevated by rich polymerized methalothionein (copper binding protein) in lysosomes.