Objective: To investigate the dynamical changes of histology, histochemistry, energy metabolism, liver function and posttransplantive survival of liver graft under different warm ischemia times (WIT) in rats and determine the maximum limitation of liver graft to warm ischemia.
Methods: According to WIT, the rats were randomized into 7 groups, WIT were 0, 10, 15, 20, 30, 45, 60 minutes respectively. The recovery changes of above-mentioned index were observed or measured after liver transplantation. The graft survival and postoperative complications in each subgroup were analyzed.
Results: Liver graft injury was reversible and gradually resumed normal structure and function after reperfusion when WIT was less than 30 minutes. In terms of graft survival, there was no significant difference between subgroups within 30 WIT. When WIT was prolonged to 45 minutes, the recipients long-term survival was severely insulted, and both function and histological structure of liver graft would develop irreversible damage when WIT was prolonged to 60 minutes.
Conclusion: These results indicate that rat liver graft could be safely subject to warm ischemia within 30 minutes. The levels of adentriphos (ATP) and energy charge (EC) and the activities of glycogen and enzyme-histochemistry of liver graft and its recovery potency after reperfusion may serve as the important criteria to evaluate the quality of liver graft.