Correlations of liver echo intensity with cytology and chemical measurements of fat, water and protein content in live burbots ( Lota lota)

Abstract

Six live burbot fish ( Lota lota) were examined on the 1st, 7th and 15th day after capture. The echo intensity of the liver tissue was correlated with chemically measured fat and water content and with the tissue cytology. At the end of the study, the collagen and total protein contents of the livers were also measured. The increasing size of fat droplets and clustering of droplets correlated well with the echo intensity ( p = 0.0012), but there was no statistically significant correlation between echo intensity and chemically measured fat concentration ( p = 0.1989). These results indicate that the echogenicity is a function of the liver histomorphology. No significant correlation was found between the echo intensity and liver collagen, total protein content, or amounts of water. The burbots tolerated transport and repeated anesthesia and appear well suited for experimental ultrasound studies.