23Na- and 31P-NMR studies of perfused mouse liver during nitrogen hypoxia

The effects of nitrogen hypoxia on isolated perfused mouse livers from fed mice were studied at 37 degrees C using 23Na and 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The paramagnetic shift reagent, dysprosium-triethylenetetraminehexaacetic acid, was used to distinguish intracellular from extracellular sodium. The area of the intracellular sodium resonance remained relatively constant over the first 30 min of hypoxia and then increased by a factor of approximately 2 relative to controls over the next 30 min. High-energy phosphate metabolites were measured using 31P-NMR. The beta-ATP resonance decreased to zero, and the intracellular pH decreased from 7.3 to 6.9 during 60 min of hypoxia. Liver enzyme activity in the effluent exiting the liver increased in direct proportion to the length of hypoxia up to 56 min. The sodium, ATP, and enzyme changes during hypoxia were correlated with histological and electron-microscopic findings. The morphology of liver specimens exposed to 30 min of hypoxia was close to normal, whereas extensive centrilobular and midlobular necrosis was seen in specimens subjected to 60 and 90 min of hypoxia. The effect of 30 min of reoxygenation after 15, 30, 45, 60, and 90 min of hypoxia was also studied. The level of beta-ATP recovery depended on the duration of hypoxia. For 60 min of hypoxia followed by reoxygenation, beta-ATP recovered to only 20% of control values. The morphology of hypoxic livers after 30 min of reoxygenation was similar to livers subjected to hypoxia alone.