Different response of hepatic energy change and adenine nucleotide concentrations to hemorrhagic shock

The adenine nucleotide and mitochondrial metabolisms of the liver were studied in hemorrhagic shock of rats. In reversible shock, the energy charge (ATP+1/2ADP/ATP+ADP+AMP) levels fell more rapidly than the total adenine nucleotide concentrations and decreased to 64% of controls 2 hours after shock. However, the oxidative phosphorylation of isolated mitochondira was only slightly inhibited. The energy charge levels were restored to normal values immediately when the shed blood was reinfused, while the concentrations of adenine nucleotides increased gradually and reached normal at 2 hours later. In irreversible shock which took up 70% or more of the withdrawn blood to maintain pressure of 40mm. Hg, the energy charge, adenine nucleotide concentrations and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation decreased considerably and were not restored by the reinfusion of the remainder of shed blood. It is suggested that the energy charge can respond rapidly to changes in an available oxygen and the adenine nucleotide concentrations and that an impairment of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation plays an important role in leading to irreversible hemorrhagic shock.