POTASSIUM UPTAKE AND WATER-CONTENT IN HEPATOCYTES ISOLATED FROM RAT LIVERS PRESERVED IN EURO-COLLINS AND UW SOLUTIONS AND AFTER TRANSPLANTATION

Isolated hepatocytes from the rat were used to assess the maintenance of liver cell function in relation to the composition of the preservat ion medium. After separation by collagenase, they were incubated in Kr ebs-Ringer-Bicarbonate medium (KRB), Euro-Collins (EC), or University of Wisconsin (UW) solutions. Potassium influx, cell volume, and transa minase release were measured in cells freshly separated from control l ivers or from livers preserved in vitro up to 12 h in these media or h aving undergone orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). While ion exch ange levels were retained in all media, cells shrank significantly in UW but were able to restore their volume after 3 h of liver preservati on. With regard to in vivo conditions, UW appears to be the best mediu m to prevent edema and to maintain more stable potassium exchange and enzyme production. These results are of value for liver transplantatio n in humans. (C) 1994 Academic Press, Inc.