IMPROVEMENT OF RAT-LIVER GRAFT FUNCTION BY INSULIN ADMINISTRATION TO DONOR

Background & Aims: The nutritional status of a donor is considered to be an important factor affecting organ viability. The purpose of the p resent study was to examine hepatic energy status in connection with p osttransplantation liver function. Methods: The following five groups of donor rat livers were prepared and stored in University of Wisconsi n solution at 4 degrees C: fasted group, rats fasted for 24 hours; fed group, rats provided standard laboratory chow; fed plus insulin group , fed rats treated with insulin before harvest; fasted plus insulin gr oup, fasted rats treated with insulin before harvest; and fed plus glu cagon group, fed rats pretreated with glucagon. Results: Hepatic level s of adenosine triphosphate and total adenine nucleotides were maintai ned in the decreasing order of the fed plus insulin, fed, fasted plus insulin, fasted, and fed plus glucagon groups during preservation. Lac tate production rate and fructose 2,6-bisphosphate level increased in the order of the fed plus insulin, fed, fed plus glucagon, fasted, and fasted plus insulin groups. Liver function after transplantation eval uated by the bile flow rate and enzyme leakage was well restored in th e fed plus insulin group. Conclusions: Insulin administration to nutri tionally well-supported livers before harvest improved energy metaboli sm during preservation and liver function after transplantation.