The metabolism of the isolated perfused canine liver

An isolated liver perfusion was used for metabolic interrelation studies in our laboratory. The liver slices, after a 2-hr perfusion period in various pretreated groups, were also studied for carbohydrate metabolism. It was found that aerobic and anaerobic metabolism of liver slices treated with deoxycorticosterone acetate, testosterone, and partial ligation of the thoracic inferior vena cava, were the same as in normal livers. We also observed depression of the glycolytic pathway for utilizing exogenous fructose in the group pretreated with carbon tetrachloride and common bile duct ligation. An increase in oxygen ocnsumption in common bile duct-pretreated animals was also observed. Such studies suggest that hepatic metabolic performance in vitro or after perfusion cannot, therefore, provide infallible information on the prior presence of important host drug treatments in hepatic disease states. Such features may complicate donor considerations in hepatic transplantation patients.