IMPAIRED ENDOTHELIUM-DEPENDENT RELAXATION OF HUMAN HEPATIC ARTERIES AFTER PRESERVATION WITH THE UNIVERSITY-OF-WISCONSIN SOLUTION

Objective: To evaluate the effect of University of Wisconsin solution on endothelium-dependent relaxation and contraction of human hepatic a rteries in vitro. Design: Human hepatic arteries were harvested from 2 4 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who had under-gone hepatectom y. Setting: A tertiary care center. Interventions: Human hepatic arter ies (n=6 in each group) were harvested during resection for hepatocell ular carcinoma. The arteries in group 1 (ie, the control group) were i mmediately studied without preservation. The arteries in group 2 were preserved in cold (4 degrees C) physiological solution for 1 hour, whi le the arteries in groups 3 and 4 were preserved in University of Wisc onsin solution for 1 and 16 hours, respectively. Segments of control a nd preserved hepatic arteries with or without endothelium were then su spended in organ chambers to measure the isometric force. Results: The relaxation of segments of the hepatic arteries with endothelium in re sponse to acetylcholine and adenosine diphosphate was significantly (P <.05) greater than that of segments without endothelium. The maximal r elaxation of hepatic arterial segments with endothelium in groups 3 an d 4 in response to acetylcholine was notably different from that of se gments in groups 1 and 2. The maximal relaxation of hepatic arterial s egments with endothelium in groups 3 and 4 in response to adenosine di phosphate was notably different from that of segments in groups 1 and 2. Perfusate hypoxia (mean+/-SD PO2, 30+/-5 mm Hg) caused the endothel ium-dependent contraction of the arteries (the median initial tension in groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 was 251%, 233%, 276%, and 260%, respectively; P>.05). Conclusions: The endothelium-dependent relaxation of human he patic arteries in response to acetylcholine and adenosine diphosphate was notably attenuated by University of Wisconsin solution. The impair ed endothelium-dependent relaxation by University of Wisconsin solutio n and the prominent endothelium-dependent contraction of human hepatic arteries would favor vasospasm and thrombosis after hepatic transplan tation.