The isolated normothermic hemoperfused porcine leg as model for pharmacological and toxicological investigations

The isolated normothermic hemoperfused porcine leg as model for pharmacolog ical and toxicological investigations In this short communication we present the isolated normothermic hemoperfus ed porcine leg as an alternative model for pharmacological and toxicologica l investigations. Both legs and blood were obtained at a slaughter horse. L egs were connected to the perfusion apparatus Mediport Biotechnik and provi ded with room air Rad nutrients via a dialysis module over a seven hour per iod. The perfusion pressure, the perfusion flow the response to noradrenerg ic stimuli, the glucose consumption influenced by insulin dosage and the ab sorption of estradiol were investigated. Once noredrenalin was given perfus ion pressure increased as expected and dropped back to normal only a few mi nutes after administration. Moreover, in the legs treated with insulin, a g lucose consumption was detected Only the legs treated with estradiol show r d an increasing concentration of estradiol in plasma throughout the experim ent. From the results obtained, it can be concluded that the isolated normo thermic hemoperfused porcine leg seems to be a suitable alternative model f or the testing of transdermal absorption as well as for the investigation o f acute vasoactive substances. Further studies will be performed in our lab oratory in order to determine the metabolic condition of this system as wel l as to ascertain other possibilities of this model in pharmacological and toxicological investigations.