AbstractsBiology & Animal Science

The maximum safe period of normothermic ischemia the canine liver could tolerate was forty minutes. Survival of the animals after ischemic liver injury could be predicted by measuring the levels of lactate, inorganic phosphate and adenine nucleotides in the hepatic tissue. Measurements of high energy phosphate compounds and study of mitochondrial respiratory function in the revascularized liver helped to predict the consequent survival or death of the animal. The maximum safe period of temporary hepatic inflow stasis was prolonged by maintaining a minimum blood flow to the liver along collateral vessels in the gastrohepatic omentum. Liver tolerance to hepatic ischemia was prolonged by pretreating the animals with prednisolone, chlorpromazine or promethazine. It was shown that the acid phosphatase released into the systemic circulation after ischemic hepatic injury was not principally of lysosomal origin.