Metabolic function of grafted liver in rats.

We studied the metabolic variations in grafted livers at different times after transplant by measuring the hepatic energy and redox states. Five groups of rats were studied: control ungrafted Wistar (RT1y) rats (group 1), ungrafted Wistar rats with ligature of the hepatic artery (group 2), isografted Wistar rats (group 3), allografted Wistar rats with livers from ACI (RT1a) donors (group 4, long-term surviving rat strain combination), and allografted Wistar rats with livers from BN (RT1n) rats (group 5, rejector rats). The metabolism of grafted livers was studied for 7 days in groups 2 and 3, for 2 months in group 4, and at the time of rejection in group 5. Adenine nucleotide levels (ATP, ADP, AMP) were significantly impaired at 24 hr and at 48 hr from grafting in isografted and in allografted livers, and the reestablishment of normal values began at the 7th day from grafting. Cytoplasmic NAD+/NADH ratios were lowered at 24 hr from grafting in isografted and in allografted livers. Mitochondrial NAD+/NADH ratios were lowered at 24 hr in isografted livers and at 24 hr and 48 hr from grafting in allografted livers. The metabolic studies performed for 2 months revealed a significant correlation between well-maintained metabolic functions and transplant survival. On the contrary, an important energy loss was evidenced in livers of group 5, at the time of rejection.