Morphological investigation of the porcine liver directly following preservation with Euro-Collins, University of Wisconsin and Bretschneider's HTK solution.

In order to study perfusion effects of different liver preservation methods on liver structure, porcine livers were perfused with either Bretschneider's HTK (Histidine Tryptophane Ketoglutarat) solution, Euro-Collins (EC) solution or University of Wisconsin solution (UW) according to the respective recommended protocols. Subsequently, together with a group of unprotected livers, all organs were examined by light and electron microscopy including computer assisted morphometry. The width of the space of Disse, the continuity of endothelial cells and the ultrastructure of the hepatocytes were not impaired after cold perfusion with any of the 3 solutions. However, we found considerable differences between the groups with respect to removal of blood cells from liver sinusoids. Livers flushed according to the HTK-protocol had the lowest residual blood cell content followed by the livers of the EC- and the UW-group. Centrilobular regions of the liver lobules were generally better washed free of blood than periportal zones. Computer assisted morphometry did not reveal any significant difference between the size of hepatocytes of EC-, UW- and HTK livers. Only the hepatocytes of normothermic control livers (biopsy samples) were 10% larger than hepatocytes of cold flushed groups. None of the protective perfusion protocols showed structural signs of perfusion injury.