The solubility of 85Krypton in the regenerating liver of the rat

The accuracy of liver blood flow measurement using the 85Krypton clearance technique depends on the use of an appropriate value for the solubility of 85Kr in liver relative to blood (the partition coefficient, lambda). This factor was studied in the regenerating liver remnant of the rat after a 67% partial hepatectomy, in order to find the influence of the ensuing postoperative fatty infiltration of the liver. There was found to be a rapid increase in lambda from 0-95 in the normal liver to 1-52 in the remnant 7-5 h after operation, followed by a more gradual return to normal levels by 35 h. The results indicate an early increase in the fat content of the liver after 67% hepatectomy and demonstrate that liver blood flow calculated from 85Kr clearance measurements in the early stages of regeneration must take into account the changes in lambda during that time.