A MAGNETIC-RESONANCE STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF NUTRITIONAL-STATUS ON COLD-PRESERVED MURINE LIVER

Background/Aims: Clinical and experimental studies suggest a link betw een nutritional status and the recovery of hepatic function after hypo xic and hypothermic insults. This study aimed at determining the metab olic pathways involved in such recovery as a function of nutrition. Me thods: Livers from fed and fasted mice were perfused with oxygenated K rebs'-Henseleit buffer (RBKB). After depletion of glycogen, P-31 and C -13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectra were acquired. Livers were flus hed with University of Wisconsin solution and stored at 4 degrees C fo r 0, 24, or 48 hours. At reperfusion with RBKB, recovery of nucleoside triphosphates (NTP) was followed up. After 45 minutes, [3-C-13]alanin e was added and substrate consumption and metabolic products assessed. Results: Livers from fed animals recovered more NTP at reperfusion bo th after 24 hours (85% +/- 11% vs. 67% +/- 7%; P < 0.01) and 48 hours (61% +/- 10% vs. 36% +/- 10%; P < 0.01, respectively) of cold storage. Gluconeogenesis as reflected by [3-C-13]alanine consumption was also higher from fed animals. Hepatic glycogen before preservation was low in both groups. Livers from fasted animals contained increased triglyc eride levels, but these did not contribute to NTP production at reperf usion. Conclusions: Livers from fed mice show an improved recovery aft er cold ischemia. Glycogen levels are low in these organs, and NTP syn thesis must be from substrates other than fatty acids.