A. Caban et al., Arterial ketone index in assessing liver function and its detoxicative capability after ischemia-reperfusion injury, ACT BIOCH P, 47(4), 2000, pp. 1137-1146
Arterial ketone index (AKBR) which is the ratio of acetoacetic acid to 3-hy
droxybutyric acid in the arterial blood, is believed to reflect the mitocho
ndrial reduction potential of hepatocytes and general energy state of the l
iver. In the presented paper we challenged this hypothesis by analysing the
correlation between AKBR and the results of typical liver blood tests (Asp
AT, AlAT, LDH, CRP) and biotransforming potential of the liver (cytochromes
P450, b(5) and their corresponding NADPH and NADH reductases) in the model
of ischemia-reperfusion injury of rat liver. The results were compared wit
h histochemical analysis of distribution and activity of SDH, LDH and G-6-P
ase, the key marker enzymes of the liver. We have shown that, except in the
case of acute phase protein (CRP), a decrease in AKBR correlated well with
the increase of the level of indicator enzymes in serum. Histochemical ana
lysis also confirmed that AKBR correlates with the degree of damage to hepa
tocytes during early stage of reperfusion after 60 min of liver ischemia. I
n the Spearman test, AKBR was significantly correlated with the changes in
cytochrome P450 content and its NADPH reductase activity which indicates a
high sensitivity of this test. We conclude that the decrease of AKBR value
reflects the impairment of basic energy pathways and detoxicative capabilit
y of the liver.