A Bayesian analysis of capillary heterogeneity in the intact pig liver

Published experimental data on the steady elimination of galactose by five isolated perfused pig livers are interpreted in terms of a model of hepatic uptake, in which the functional properties of the individual liver capillaries (hepatic sinusoids) are not identical. Kinetic parameters, including the Michaelis constant for the local enzyme-substrate interaction, are determined for each preparation on the basis of this model and are compared with previously obtained values based on an earlier model in which the sinusoids were assumed to be functionally identical. Posterior distributions of the degree of functional heterogeneity and the value of the Michaelis constant are given for the case where the livers are considered as a statistically homogeneous group. The degree of functional heterogeneity of the capillaries is found to be consistent with previous independent estimates.