FT-IR molecular evidence of liver damage by chemical agents

A quantitative analysis of hepatotoxic effects on rat liver, caused by a single administration of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), and of sequential hepatic regeneration has been performed by the application of biochemical analysis, light microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) absorption spectroscopy. The joined techniques have allowed to mark the biochemical, structural and dynamical properties (these appear in the O-H vibrational stretching region) of rat liver samples by monitoring the changes versus the time course of injuries. The morphological observations have shown a dramatic increasing of degenerated cellular elements with fatty infiltrations just after 24 h and an initial regeneration already present at 72 h from the CCl4 treatment. As FT-IR measurements are concerned, a vibrational assignment has been made for the observed sub-bands in the analyzed wave number range, by comparing the normal liver spectrum with those in the case of CCl4 administration. In particular, the analysis in the O-H stretching region (3000-3800 cm(-1)) of intoxicated samples has shown clear changes interpreted on the basis of the structural and biochemical analysis made on the same samples. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.