Effects of preceding ischemic time on the recovery course of energy metabolism in rat liver.

Effects of the duration of preceding ischemia on the recovery of liver energy metabolism after reperfusion were investigated. Liver ATP level was depleted after the first 30 min of ischemia, and the decrease remained steady thereafter. Recovery of ATP depended on the preceding ischemic time, i.e., 81.5%, 66.4% and 39.5% recovery of the control level were observed after 60 min of reperfusion following 30 min, 60 min and 120 min of ischemia, respectively. Ischemia-induced mitochondrial dysfunction depended on the duration of ischemia. Mitochondrial function was recovered fully after 60 min of reperfusion following both 30 min and 60 min of ischemia. However, deterioration of mitochondrial function did not recover significantly after 60 min of reperfusion following 120 min of ischemia. Similar decreases in adenylate energy charge were observed irrespective of the duration of ischemia, and it recovered fully after 60 min of reperfusion following 30 min, 60 min and 120 min of ischemia. These results suggest that not the energy charge but ATP level itself is a reliable marker of liver energy status.