The effect of hepatic devascularisation in the pig upon the energy charge and ketone ratio

This study describes the effects upon various functions of the porcine liver, especially the energy charge, after ligation of the hepatic artery or diversion of portal venous blood either with or without revascularisation by arterial or vena caval blood. Energy charge was significantly reduced for up to 2 days after arterial ligation but by 7 days was showing a return towards normal. Levels of adenosine triphosphate were affected most. The ketone body ratio was well maintained. A sharp elevation in levels of aspartate aminotransferase was noted at 2 days but had returned towards normal by 7 days while the prothrombin index and plasma fibrinogen tended to fall. There were inconsistent changes after portal diversion. These data indicate that the hepatic arterial, rather than portal venous inflow is important in the maintenance of porcine hepatic energy charge. This fact has physiological implications, and there is also an important application in the field of liver transplantation, where it may be that the ischaemic liver should be rearterialised first rather than after revascularisation with portal venous blood.