A Perfluorochemical Oxygen Carrier (Fluosol‐43) in a Synthetic Medium Used for Perfusion of Isolated Rat Liver

Abstract

An emulsion of perfluorotributylamine (Fluosol-43) was used as substitute for the gas-carrying function of erythrocytes in synthetic medium for perfusion of isolated rat liver. The efficiency and effect of this synthetic gas-carrier were evaluated from measurements of the concentrations of rat albumin, the unsaturated vitamin B12-binding capacity of small-molecular-size vitamin B12-binding proteins (UBBC of SBP), urea nitrogen, glucose, Na, K, alanine amino transferase (ALAT) in the medium, and the incorporation of 14C-lysine into the circulating proteins. Secretion of bile, portal pressure, PO2, PCO2 and pH in the affluent and the effluent mediums were also measured. The O2-carrying capacity of the medium and the metabolic functions of the liver were higher, and the liver damage less, when the medium included Fluosol-43 than without it. The albumin synthesis and the secretion of bile were as high as has been reported for perfusions with erythrocytes. The O2 carried by the Fluosol-43 was utilized by the liver, and the metabolic functions were not adversely affected during 4 h of perfusion by the medium containing Fluosol-43.