Hepatic oxygen supply during early and late sepsis in the rat

Hepatic oxygen supply and related parameters were evaluated during early (8-10 h) and late (18-26 h) stages of lethal septic peritonitis induced in rats by cecal ligation and puncture. In the early phase, hepatic pO2 was reduced significantly (mean 9.3 versus 22.2 mmHg in sham-operated controls). This was accompanied by elevations of serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (p less than 0.02 and p less than 0.10, respectively), and increased hematocrit (p less than 0.001). Total body oxygen consumption was decreased by 19% (p less than 0.001). By the late stage of sepsis, hepatic oxygen supply was depressed profoundly (mean 2.0 versus 24.5 mmHg in controls) concomitant with further elevations of serum transaminases. Lactacidemia, respiratory alkalosis, and tachycardia were also present. Hypoxemia and hypotension were not observed during either early or late stages. Our results may be interpreted as representing early and progressive impairment of hepatic oxygen delivery in rats subjected to cecal ligation and puncture.