A rapid, simple, and cost-effective method for screening liver preservation solutions in the rat

Background. Rat liver transplantation models or isolated liver perfusion mo dels are currently used for assessing efficacy of liver preservation method s. We tested the hypothesis that hepatocellular enzymes released into the w ashout solution after preservation may predict hepatic function during repe rfusion and could thus be alternatively used for evaluating efficiency of l iver preservation solutions. Furthermore, we applied this approach for asse ssing the role of Kupffer cells (KC) in preservation-induced liver damage. Methods. After preservation in University of Wisconsin (UW) or Euro-Collins (EC) solution, rat livers were washed with Ringer-lactate solution. Correl ations between enzymes released into the washout solution and hepatocyte fu nctional parameters determined during reperfusion on using a blood-free per fusion model were investigated. Results. In UW-preserved livers, acid phosphatase (ACP) activity correlated negatively with bile flow (R=-0.904), taurocholate intrinsic clearance (R= -0.841), and bromosulfophthalein excretion (R=-0.831). Both alanine transam inase and aspartate transaminase activities correlated with the functional parameters investigated. In EC-stored livers, correlation was also found be tween ACP activity and bile flow (R=-0.666). Livers stored in UW solution e xhibited approximately 3 times lower washout activities of enzymes studied than livers stored in EC solution. Mitochondria isolated from UW-stored liv ers exhibited significantly better function than those isolated from EC-sto red livers. Blockade of KC did not influence enzyme release into the washou t solution. Conclusions. Determination of ACP, alanine transaminase, and aspartate tran saminase activities in the washout solution can be used as a rapid, simple, and cost-effective way for screening liver preservation solutions, The res ults also suggest that KC were not involved in preservation-induced liver d amage.