DEHYDRATIONAL EFFECTS ON THE REGULATION OF GLYCOLYSIS DURING LIVER PRESERVATION

The effects of hyposmotic, isosmotic, and hyperosmotic liver preservat ion solutions on the regulatory control and flux of glycolysis, and ad enylate levels were determined in rat liver during a 10 h period of co ld storage. Both isosmotic and hyposmotic solutions resulted in an act ivation of phosphofructokinase (PFK) by 10 h. However, the hyperosmoti c (600 mOsm) solution exhibited an activation of PFK at 1 h. Despite t his early activation of glycolysis, flux through the pathway did not i ncrease. Positive changes in individual adenylate levels resulted in a n overall maintenance of total adenylate contents and 'energy charge' over 4-10 h cold storage. The results are discussed in relation to the possibility that altering the osmolarity of liver preservation soluti on may enhance liver viability by maintaining tissue energetics.