Influence of hemodilution on hepatic energy metabolism in rat.

The effects and safety limits of acute hemodilution on hepatic energy status were investigated in relation to arterial blood ketone body ratio and hepatic energy charge in a hemodilution rat model. As long as the hematocrit value was maintained above 20%, ketone body ratio and energy charge level at 6 h after hemodilution remained at the same levels as those of the sham-diluted groups. However, when hematocrit value was less than 15%, the ketone body ratio markedly decreased from the control value of 0.686 +/- 0.044 to 0.278 +/- 0.048 (p less than 0.001), and energy charge decreased from the control value of 0.856 +/- 0.012 to 0.0806 +/- 0.011 (p less than 0.01). From these results, it was suggested that hemodilution exerts no influence on the energy status of the liver as long as hematocrit is maintained above 20%.