For the study of correlation of CT number and fatty content of the liver, total 35 rabbits were used. The rabbits were divided into one control and three experimental groups according to the amount of carbon tetrachloride, administered 1 ml, 2 ml and 3 ml per kg of body weight respectively. The carbon tetrachloride was administered via intragastric route.
CT was performed 72 hours following administration of carbon tetrachloride, and immediately prior to CT scan each rabbit was anesthetized by means of IM injection of ketamine and IV injection of succinylcholine to stop motion and respiration. CT numbers were measured and histological study for the deposition of fat in the liver tissue was done. Also biochemical analysis of lipid in the blood and in the extraction of liver tissue was performed.
Comparison of CT number with biochemical and histological data was done. The results were as follows:
1. In each experimental group, the degree of accumulation of fat in the liver was proportional to the amount of carbon tetrachloride.
2. Degree of decreasing CT number was correlated with the increase in the ac-cumulation of fat in the liver.
3. In the control and experimental (1,2,3) groups, when the amount of carbon tetrachloride increased, the amount of total lipid, cholesterol and triglyceride on biochemical analysis of the liver increased. Also increase in the amount of plasma lipids on biochemical analysis and a great degree of increase in accumulation of fat in the liver on histological examination were seen. But no changes in the amounts of phospholipid and protein on biochemical analysis of the liver were noticed.
4. Increase in the amount of total lipid could make a change in the CT number of the liver remakably (r = - 0.63). As. the amount of cholesterol and triglyceride in-creased, the CT number of the liver decreased (r = - 0.61 and r.= - 0.76 respec-tively). But there was no significant. correlation between the amount of protein and phospholipid and the degree of decrease in CT number.
5. Mean values of CT number in noinial, grade 1, grade 2, grade 3 and grade 4 ac-cording to the degree of histological changes were 67.46 ± 2.24, 58.53 ± 3.06, 49.43 ± 6.81, 39.49 ± 9.69, 20.62 ± 8.04 respectively. The reduction of CT number was correlated with the accumulation of fat on histological examination.
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