UPTAKE, REFLUX, AND EXCRETION OF BROMOSULFOPHTHALEIN IN ISCHEMIA-REPERFUSION INJURY OF RAT-LIVER

The uptake, reflux and excretion of bromosulfophthalein (BSP) were stu died on a model of total warm ischaemia for 30 min (group 1) or 60 min (group 2) followed by reperfusion for 45 min in the isolated perfused rat liver of unfasting rats. In group 1, the BSP hepatic uptake was c omparable to control livers (30 s ischaemia plus 45 min reperfusion), but was significantly reduced in group 2. The reflux of BSP from liver to perfusate In group 1 and group 2 resulted in the appearance of sec ondary concentration time peaks of BSP in the reservoir perfusate. Thi s result suggests that ischaemia-reperfusion induced a qualitative cha nge in BSP pharmacokinetics. Excretion of the dye into bile was signif icantly impaired in group 2 only. The leakage of lactate dehydrogenase Into the perfusate was increased moderately in both group 1 and group 2 in comparison to the controls, suggesting a low degree of liver par enchymal injury. In conclusion, the results of this investigation show ed that BSP pharmacokinetics were not only undergoing quantitative cha nges but also a qualitative change in the model of ischaemia-reperfusi on injury of the liver obtained from fed rats and may thus serve as a highly sensitive indicator of liver viability.