decreased accumulation of ultrasound contrast in the liver of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis rat model aim to investigate the diagnosis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis nash using contrast ultrasonography in the nash rat modelmethods the liver in methionine cholinedeficient diet mcdd rats a nash model constructed by feeding an mcdd was examined by contrast ultrasonography at weeks 2 4 8 12 and 16 with late phase images of contrast ultrasonography kupffer imaging in which contrast enhancement was achieved by incorporation of a contrast agent by kupffer cells kcs and images were compared to those in rats taking a regular chowresults decrease in contrast enhancement was observed first in mcdd rats at week 2 kcs were counted based on immunohistochemistry but their numbers were not reduced and it was assumed that attenuation of contrast enhancement was attributable to reduced phagocytic activity of the kcsconclusion it is suggested that clinical application of contrast ultrasonography may be valuable for noninvasive diagnosis of nash