Role of the 13C-methacetin breath test in the assessment of acute liver injury in a rat model

Figure 1 Histopathological findings of liver tissues in control and model groups (hematoxylin and eosin × 100). Control: Hepatic architecture was normal with little necrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration; M_6h: The structure of the hepatic lobules was largely normal with spotty, focal necrosis and little inflammatory cell infiltration; M_12h: The structure of hepatic lobules was slightly damaged, with focal necrosis and little inflammatory cell infiltration; M_24h: There was an extensive area of central-central and central-portal bridging necrosis containing many red cells trapped in the collapsed reticulin network, and significant inflammatory cell infiltration was observed; M_48h: Hepatic necrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration gradually reduced; M_72h: Hepatic lobular structure returned to normal, with very little inflammatory cell infiltration.

Figure 2 Comparison of parameters of ¹³C-methacetin breath test between control and model groups at different time points after D-GalN injection. A: T_max (min); B: MV_max (%); C: CUM₁₂₀ (%); D: DOB_max (%). ^aP < 0.05, ^bP < 0.01 vs control.