Maintenance of rat liver viability enhanced by cold flushing with oxygenated perfluorochemicals

The possible benefit of oxygenation during initial cold flushing was investigated as a means of improving the quality of liver preservation in rats. In five groups of animals (total 61 experiments), the livers were flushed with different perfusates. Non-oxygenated groups included controls, Collins’ solution alone and Collins’ solution containing perfluorotributylamine (FC-43). In the oxygenated groups, Collins’ solution alone and Collins’ solution containing FC-43 were oxygenated by bubbling. The hepatic ATP level and histopathological changes were used to assess the quality of liver preservation. Oxygenation during the initial cooling process proved to be effective in maintaining energy metabolism and preventing the characteristic microscopic changes of ischemic damage. Oxygenated Collins’ solution containing FC-43 showed a much longer lasting effect compared with oxygenated Collins’ solution alone, without FC-43. Under light microscopy, the integrity of the liver appeared to be well preserved up to eight hours with the former solution. It is concluded that enhanced oxygenation with FC-43 in the initial cold flushing period can improve the quality of liver preservation.