Pathophysiology of hemorrhagic shock. II. Anoxic metabolism of the rat liver following acute blood loss in the rat.

Changes in energy metabolism of rat liver in hemorrhagic shock were investigated. The hepatic energy charge level (0.24-0.693) correlated significantly with the mean arterial blood pressure (20-75 mmHg) (r = 0.931, P less than 0.001), as well as the blood volume withdrawn (2.43-2.82 ml/100 g body weight) which, in turn, correlated with the various mortality rates (LD16, LD50, and LD84) (r = -0.728, P less than 0.01). As shown by the changes in adenylate energy charge levels, the liver was very sensitive to acute blood loss. There was no significant difference between the energy charge levels of liver obtained in situ from rats with 84% mortality after hemorrhage and that of the same liver further incubated in vitro in the absence of O2 (0.304 versus 0.235). From these results, it appears that the energy status in the liver of rats dying from severe hemorrhagic shock has changed to anaerobic metabolism, which may not be sufficient to maintain adequate liver function or support individual survival.