Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 1, 2026
Preclinical Model of Hind Limb Ischemia in Diabetic Rabbits
Published on: June 2, 2019
Effects of carbon dioxide arterial infusion on hepatic biochemistry and histology in a rabbit model
C R Mladinich1, I F Hawkins, T G Heaton-Jones
1Department of Radiology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville 32610-0374, USA.
Rationale And Objectives:
The objective of this study was to determine the effect of carbon dioxide (CO2) infusion on hepatic biochemistry and histology in a rabbit model.
Methods:
The study population consisted of 24 anesthetized rabbits that received hepatic infusion of either CO2 or saline (control) at doses of 10 mL/kg, comparable with those doses used in human clinical trials. Blood for clinical chemistry analysis was collected at baseline, 1 hour, 24 hours, and 168 hours (7 days) postprocedure. The rabbits were killed at 7 days postprocedure and the liver examined histologically for hepatic damage.
Results:
There were no significant differences between the CO2 and the control groups in dorsal, ventral, and dorsal/ventral scores. Increases in alanine, an important indicator of hepatocellular membrane injury, in the CO2 group were significantly greater at 1 hour and 24 hours posttreatment (P = 0.037 and 0.013). However, the mean levels at 168 hours (7 days) were not significantly different (P = 0.22). The increases at 1 and 24 hours were small, transient, and considered clinically insignificant.
Conclusion:
No long-term hepatic effects in these animals were suggested by biochemical and histological examinations.
