The effect of temporary hepatic ischemia on liver surface pH and potassium ion activity in the rat

The effects of hepatic ischemia can be analyzed with a wide variety of functional and morphological methods. In this study we used a new organ monitoring device that accurately determines pH and K+ activities on the liver surface with ion-selective electrodes. Four groups of rats (n = 6 each) were subjected to complete, arterial or portal warm ischemia for 15 min (achieved by clamping of the hepatoduodenal ligament, the hepatic artery or the portal vein) and subsequent reperfusion. One group was sham-operated. Complete and portal ischemia were characterized by an immediate decline of pH and a more retarded rise of K+ activity on the liver surface. Arterial ischemia had almost no effect on these two parameters when compared with the sham group. Upon reperfusion the shifts of pH and K+ activity reversed towards initial baseline values. The organ monitoring system offers the option to assess ional shifts non-invasively during organ procurement, ischemia and reperfusion and may be used as an additional criterion for the estimation of organ viability.