Disturbances of reticulo-endothelial function following experimental liver transplantation.

Reticulo-endothelial function was studied in liver-grafted pigs using intravenous carbon clearance at 24 h and 7 days postgraft. Flushing of auto- or allografts with Ringer's lactate and with or without 4-hour storage caused no change in carbon clearance. Flushing of auto- or allografts with Eurocollins solution and with or without 4-hour storage resulted in delayed carbon clearance at 7 days. The changes appeared to be related to the composition of preservation fluid rather than to its volume or temperature, the duration of storage or the development of rejection.