METABOLIC FUNCTION OF THE ISOLATED-PERFUSED RAT-LIVER IN CHRONIC SEPSIS

Significant alterations of liver function have been identified in expe rimental sepsis including changes in protein and glucose production. T he specific changes which are evident in vivo appear to depend upon th e specific experimental model and probably represent the relative cont ribution of hepatocellular function and extrahepatic influences as wel l as the time course of the septic process. Relatively few studies hav e focused on function of the whole organ. In an effort to study intrin sic hepatic function during chronic sepsis, control and septic animals (intraabdominal abscess) were studied using the isolated perfused liv er model. Basal hepatic oxygen utilization was mildly elevated compare d to that in control livers and the oxygen consumption response to a m etabolic load was found to be essentially identical to that in control and septic livers. Glucose and albumin production were not substantia lly different in these two groups. These findings suggest that alterat ions in liver function following the induction of sepsis may result fr om extra hepatic factors, since intrinsic liver function appears to be normal. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.