Circulating hepatodepressant factors decreasing the energy charge levels of the remnant liver after hepatectomy.

In 25% hepatectomized rabbits, the mitochondrial phosphorylative activity and the energy charge [(ATP + 1/2 ADP)/(ATP + ADP + AMP)] levels of the remnant liver remained unchanged after hepatectomy. In 70% hepatectomized rabbits, the energy charge levels of the remnant liver decreased maximally 24 h after hepatectomy (p less than 0.001), simultaneously with a marked enhancement of mitochondrial phosphorylative activity (P less than 0.001). Afterward, both returned to normal levels within 4 days. In 93% hepatectomized rabbits, the energy charge levels fell rapidly, with an inhibition of mitochondrial phosphorylative activity, within 6 h after hepatectomy. When a 24-hour 70% hepatectomized rabbit was cross-circulated with a normal rabbit, the energy charge in the liver of the normal partner decreased to 0.732 at 30 min after the blood exchange and then returned to 0.855 while that in the remnant liver of the hepatectomized partner increased from 0.767 to 0.820 (p less than 0.001). Also, the energy charge values of a 24-hour 70% hepatectomized rabbit were increased by the extracorporeal normal liver perfusion. It is suggested that a decrease in the energy charge of the remnant liver is due, at least partly, to the accumulation of the substances consuming hepatic energy (hepatodepressant factors) in the systemic blood of hepatectomized rabbits.