Centrilobular injury following hypoxia in isolated, perfused rat liver.

Hypoxia was produced in isolated, hemoglobin-free, perfused rat liver by reducing the flow rate of oxygen-carrying fluid entering the organ. The procedure caused anoxia in centrilobular regions. In these anoxic areas, structural derangements developed rapidly, characterized by bleb-like protrusions of hepatocyte plasma membrane through fenestrations in the sinusoidal endothelium. Periportal tissue remained normoxic and was completely spared. Cellular injury resulting from localized anoxia may play an important role in the pathogenesis of centrilobular liver disease.