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Effect of ursodeoxycholate in University of Wisconsin solution on long term preservation of rat livers
M Hertl1, N Clausnitzer, M C Hertl
1Department of General and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital, Essen, Germany.
Objective:
To find out whether the addition of ursodeoxycholate (UDC) to University of Wisconsin (UW) solution reduces injury during preservation of the liver.
Design:
Controlled laboratory study.
Setting:
University hospital, Germany.
Materials:
Preserved livers from 12 rats.
Methods:
Livers were flushed with 10 ml of ice-cold (0-1 degrees C) UW or iso-osmolar UW containing 5 mmol/l UDC. After preservation for 30 hours at 0-1 degrees C and 1 hour at 22 degrees C the livers were reperfused for 4 hours. Aspartate amino-transaminase, alanine aminotransferase, glutamate lactate dehydrogenase, and white blood cell (WBC) and platelet counts were measured during reperfusion. Bile flow and total bile salt secretion rate were also measured.
Results:
Addition of UDC to UW reduced the release of liver enzymes, slightly increased platelet adherence, and reduced bile flow and bile salt secretion rate.
Conclusion:
The membrane-stabilising effect of UDC may explain the reduction in enzyme release. However, liver function, as expressed by bile salt secretion rate and bile flow was adversely affected.