THE EFFECT OF TEMPORARY HEPATIC ISCHEMIA ON LIVER SURFACE PH AND POTASSIUM-ION ACTIVITY IN THE RAT

The effects of hepatic ischemia can be analyzed with a wide variety of functional and morphological methods. In this study we used a new org an monitoring device that accurately determines pH and K+ activities o n the liver surface with ion-selective electrodes. Four groups of rats (n=6 each) were subjected to complete, arterial or portal warm ischem ia for 15 min (achieved by clamping of the hepatoduodenal ligament, th e hepatic artery or the portal vein) and subsequent reperfusion. One g roup was sham-operated. Complete and portal ischemia were characterize d by an immediate decline of pH and a more retarded rise of K+ activit y on the liver surface. Arterial ischemia had almost no effect on thes e two parameters when compared with the sham group. Upon reperfusion t he shifts of pH and K+ activity reversed towards initial baseline valu es. The organ monitoring system offers the option to assess ional shif ts non-invasively during organ procurement, ischemia and reperfusion a nd may be used as an additional criterion for the estimation of organ viability.