Long‐term observation of in vivo 31 P nmr spectra in carbon tetrachloride‐intoxicated rabbit liver using implanted wireless surface coil

Phosphorus‐31 NMR spectra in rabbit liver were successively observed for more than 5 months in a chronic CCI 4 intoxication model using implanted wireless surface coils. The quality of the obtained NMR spectra was satisfactory and there was sufficient time resolution to follow the dynamic changes that occurred during a fructose tolerance test. The implanted coil did not lead to any serious adverse effects such as infection or liver dysfunction. During an 18‐week administration of CCI 4 , the area of the phosphodiester peak significantly decreased. The ratio of P i /β‐ATP was transiently elevated and gradually returned to the control level. In the fructose tolerance test, the increase in phosphomonoester and the decrease in P i and β‐ATP after i.v. fructose loading were apparent, but the degrees in these changes became smaller during the CCI 4 intoxication. This wireless surface coil was useful for consecutive and non‐invasive 31 P NMR observations of the liver to follow chronically treated animal models over a period of several months.