A perfluorochemical oxygen carrier (fluosol-43) in a synthetic medium used for perfusion of isolated rat liver.

An emulsion of perfluorotributylamine (Fluosol-43) was used as substitute for the gas-carrying function of erythrocytes in a synthetic medium for perfusion of isolated rat liver. The efficiency and effect of this synthetic gas-carrier were evaluated from measurements of the concentrations of rat albumin, the unsaturated vitamin B12-binding capacity of small-molecular-size vitamin B12-binding proteins (UBBC of SBP), urea nitrogen, glucose, sodium, potassium, alanine amino transferase (ALAT) in the medium, and the incorporation of 14C-lysine into the circulating proteins. Secretion of bile, portal pressure, PO2, PCO2 and pH in the affluent and the effluent mediums were also measured. The results demonstrate that the oxygen-carrying capacity of the medium and the metabolic functions of the liver were higher, and the liver damage less, when the medium included Fluosol-43 than without it. The albumin synthesis and the secretion of bile were as high as has been reported for perfusions with erythrocytes. This indicates that the oxygen carried by the Fluosol-43 was utilised by the liver, and that the metabolic functions were not adversely affected during 4 h of perfusion by the medium containing Fluosol-43.