Some functions of canine liver perfused ex vivo with bloodless fluorocarbon emulsion.

6 canine livers were perfused extracorporeally with bloodless fluorocarbon emulsion for 6 h. Perfusate was oxygenated in vitro with a mixture of oxygen and carbon dioxide. Biochemical studies were performed on the samples of perfusate taken from the arterial and venous lines of the perfusion circuit, and of the bile. Hepatic tissue was sampled prior to and following 6 h of perfusion for histological and biochemical studies. Changes, if any, found in the concentrations of various components of perfusate and bile, were considered due to the metabolic activity of the liver. Moderate changes of the liver architecture and a decrease of glycogen were found in hepatic tissues studied microscopically. Under the conditions of the present preliminary experiment, canine livers remained functional after 6 h of perfusion.