Effective hepatic blood flow and hepatic bioenergy status in murine peritonitis

To assess the effects of sepsis on effective hepatic blood flow (EHBF) and hepatic tissue bioenergy status 250-350 g rats underwent either sham laparotomy or cecal ligation and perforation (CLP). At 5-, 10-, and 20-hr intervals cardiac output (CO), EHBF, and tissue adenine nucleotide levels were measured. CLP rats showed a hyperdynamic response to sepsis at 20 hr, with CO increased by 25% over sham rats. At all time intervals studied EHBF was decreased and at 20 hr it was maximally decreased by 35%. Hepatic energy charge (HEC) was calculated from tissue adenine nucleotide measurements. HEC was not statistically different in sham and CLP rats at 5 hr and was 11 and 9% reduced from sham levels in CLP rats at 10 and 20 hr, respectively. Thus, EHBF is decreased very early in sepsis; before any changes in hepatic bioenergy status are noted. In this hyperdynamic model of sepsis EHBF is decreased early and decreases progressively with time which may contribute to the significant decrease in HEC that is demonstrated.