DEVELOPMENT OF AN OPTIMAL METHOD FOR THE DUAL PERFUSION OF THE ISOLATED RAT-LIVER

The liver receives two blood supplies, the portal vein (PV) and hepati c artery (HA). The isolated perfused rat liver preparation (IPRL) is w idely used to examine physiological factors affecting the hepatic disp osition of compounds, but usually it is perfused via the PV only. In t he development of a more physiological dual perfused system, we examin ed three surgical procedures for HA perfusion-cannulation through the gastroduodenal artery, the aorta, and the celiac artery-using C-14-ure a as the reference marker. Similar efflux profiles for C-14-urea were obtained for all three procedures, with a clear difference between HA and PV administration; however, cannulation of blood vessels and isola tion of the HA supply were the most reliable with the celiac artery ca nnulation, making it the preferred procedure. (C) 1998 Elsevier Scienc e Inc.