Perfusion defatting at subnormothermic temperatures in steatotic rat livers

Hepatic steatosis is a major risk factor in liver transplantation. Use of machine perfusion to reduce steatosis has been reported previously at normothermic (37°C) temperatures, with minimal media as well as specialized defatting cocktails. In this work, we tested if subnormothermic (room temperature) machine perfusion, a more practical version of machine perfusion approach that does not require temperature control or oxygen carriers, could also be used to reduce fat content in steatotic livers. Steatotic livers recovered from obese Zucker rats were perfused for 6 hours. A significant increase of very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and triglyceride (TG) content in perfusate, with or without a defatting cocktail, was observed although the changes in histology were minimal and changes in intracellular TG content were not statistically significant. The oxygen uptake rate, VLDL secretion, TG secretion, and venous resistance were similar in both groups. This study confirms lipid export during subnormothermic machine perfusion; however, the duration of perfusion necessary appears much higher than required in normothermic perfusion.