MORPHOMETRIC STUDY OF CENTRILOBULAR VESSELS IN THE RAT-LIVER AFTER CONTINUOUS HYPOTHERMIC PERFUSION WITH EURO-COLLINS AND UNIVERSITY-OF-WISCONSIN SOLUTION

Damage to the hepatic microcirculation plays an important part in the preservation-related loss of graft viability. In a study on the isolat ed, hypothermically preserved rat liver perfused continuously with Eur o-Collins and University of Wisconsin solution (gluconate substituted for lactobionate) at different flow rates we determined changes in dia meter of central veins and pericentral sinusoids and related them to w eight changes. While post-perfusion liver weight increased with Euro-C ollins and decreased with University of Wisconsin solution, weight cha nges did not vary significantly with different flow rates. Changes in sinusoidal diameter depended on the type of solution as well as on the flow rate. Cell swelling under Euro-Collins perfusion leads to compre ssion of pericentral sinusoids, which varies in degree with different flow rates. Perfusion with University of Wisconsin solution under near -normal flow, due to slight shrinking of parenchymal cells, keeps the sinusoidal lumina wide open. We conclude that there is a causal relati onship between perfusion-dependent cell swelling and reduction in sect ional area of the hepatic microvasculature. Continuous hypothermic per fusion with University of Wisconsin solution at physiologic flow rates excellently preserves the size and trabecular architecture of hepatoc ytes and thereby the sinusoidal lumina within the hepatic lobules.