Distribution of Animals in Various Studies
| Experimental purpose | Animal groups | Measurements made |
| 64Cu handling in first hour | LEA rats (n = 15) | Tail vein (n = 3) or intrasplenic injection of 64Cu (n = 12) |
| LEC+/− rats (n = 15) | Blood sampling at 15, 30, 45, and 60 min | |
| LEC−/− rats (n = 15) | Bile collection × 60 min | |
| Tissue sampling | ||
| 64Cu handling over 2–24 h | LEA rats (n = 9) | Blood sampling at 2, 3, and 24 h |
| LEC+/− rats (n = 9) | Bile collection × 60 min after 2, 3, and 24 h | |
| LEC−/− rats (n = 9) | Tissue sampling | |
| Small-animal PET studies | LEA rats (n = 9) | Imaging at 1, 3, and 24 h |
| LEC+/− rats (n = 9) | Bile collection × 60 min after 1, 3, and 24 h | |
| LEC−/− rats (n = 9) | Tissue sampling | |
| Liver injury and 64Cu handling | Healthy LEA rats (n = 6) | 99mTc-mebrofenin imaging |
| LEA rats, acute injury (n = 6) | Blood sampling at 15, 30, 45, and 60 min and 3 h | |
| F344 rats, chronic injury (n = 9) | Bile collection × 60 min after 1 and 3 h | |
| Tissue sampling | ||
| Effect of drugs on 64Cu excretion | LEA rats, valproic acid (n = 6) | Bile collection × 60 min |
| LEA rats, hydrocortisone (n = 3) | Tissue sampling | |
| Cell transplantation studies | LEC rats (n = 10) | Bile collection × 60 min |
| Tissue sampling | ||
| Small-animal PET |