A magnetic resonance study of the effect of nutritional status on cold-preserved murine liver.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Clinical and experimental studies suggest a link between nutritional status and the recovery of hepatic function after hypoxic and hypothermic insults. This study aimed at determining the metabolic pathways involved in such recovery as a function of nutrition.

METHODS

Livers from fed and fasted mice were perfused with oxygenated Krebs'-Henseleit buffer (RBKB). After depletion of glycogen, 31P and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectra were acquired. Livers were flushed with University of Wisconsin solution and stored at 4 degrees C for 0, 24, or 48 hours. At reperfusion with RBKB, recovery of nucleoside triphosphates (NTP) was followed up. After 45 minutes, [3-13C]alanine was added and substrate consumption and metabolic products assessed.

RESULTS

Livers from fed animals recovered more NTP at reperfusion both after 24 hours (85% +/- 11% vs. 67% +/- 7%; P < 0.01) and 48 hours (61% +/- 10% vs. 36% +/- 10%; P < 0.01, respectively) of cold storage. Gluconeogenesis as reflected by [3-13C]alanine consumption was also higher from fed animals. Hepatic glycogen before preservation was low in both groups. Livers from fasted animals contained increased triglyceride levels, but these did not contribute to NTP production at reperfusion.

CONCLUSIONS

Livers from fed mice show an improved recovery after cold ischemia. Glycogen levels are low in these organs, and NTP synthesis must be from substrates other than fatty acids.