Studies on isolated rat liver perfused by perfluoro-compound emulsion

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Physiology
• Hepatology

Background:

• Isolated organ perfusion is crucial for studying metabolic functions.
• Evaluating cell-free media as blood substitutes requires assessing organ viability and metabolic output.
• Perfluoro-compounds offer oxygen-carrying capabilities for perfusion media.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate cell-free synthetic media containing perfluoro-compounds as potential blood substitutes for isolated rat livers.
• To assess the capacity of different perfusion media to maintain liver function, including metabolic activities.
• To determine the suitability of isolated rat livers for testing perfusion media efficacy.

Main Methods:

• Isolated rat livers were perfused for 6 hours using various cell-free synthetic media.
• Some media incorporated perfluoro-compounds (e.g., FC-80 emulsion) as oxygen carriers.
• Liver function was assessed by measuring bile secretion, portal vein pressure, GPT, urea nitrogen, glucose, albumin synthesis, and 14-C-lysine incorporation.

Main Results:

• Perfusion with TC-199 Difco medium containing FC-80 emulsion maintained liver condition and supported albumin and protein synthesis.
• Other tested perfusates failed to support protein synthesis in the isolated rat liver.
• The liver remained in good functional condition for 6 hours with the optimized cell-free medium.

Conclusions:

• Cell-free synthetic media containing perfluoro-compounds, specifically FC-80 emulsion in TC-199, can effectively support isolated rat liver function and metabolic activity for extended periods.
• The isolated rat liver model is a valuable tool for assessing the efficacy of perfusion media in maintaining critical metabolic functions.
• These findings suggest potential applications for such media in liver preservation and research.