Euro-Collins Solution Versus Uw-Solution for Long-Term Liver Preservation in the Isolated Rat-Liver Perfusion Model

Abstract

To compare UW-solution (UW) and Euro-Collins (EC) for long-term liver preservation we investigated the morphology and metabolic capacity of rat liver after 18 and 42-hours cold-storage in either UW or EC.

After harvesting the rat liver was transferred to a perfusion chamber where it was perfused for 10 min with UW or EC at 4°C. Thereafter livers were stored at 4°C in UW or EC for 18 hours (both groups n = 6) or for 42 hours (both groups n = 8). After 18-hr or 42-hr cold-storage a 2-hr warm perfusion (37°C) was started with Krebs-Ringer solution with carbogen to which ¹²⁵Iodine-triiodothyronine (T₃) was added. Control livers (n = 8) were immediately perfused with Krebs-Ringer without cold-storage. The following parameters were assessed: ASAT-levels in the perfusate, T₃-metabolites in the bile and the perfusate, the perfusion pressure, the volume of bile secreted and light-microscopical morphology at the end of the warm perfusion period.

After cold storage in UW-solution the ASAT-levels in the perfusate were lower than after storage in EC as well as the perfusion pressures. These livers demonstrated a better T₃-metabolism and secreted more bile than EC-stored livers. Histological examination showed more tissue damage in the EC-stored livers than in the UW stored livers.

We conclude that cold-storage of rat liver in UW-solution resulted in a better morphology and metabolic capacity as compared with EC-solution.

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