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.