Some functional parameters in the isolated calf liver after hypothermic preservation.

The purpose of the experiments presented in this paper was to ascertain the influence of cold preservation on parameters allowing assessment of liver function. All tests were carried out during 6 hr normothermic perfusion of calf liver which had been previously exposed to hypothermic conditions. These conditions were achieved by continuous perfusion of the isolated liver at +15 degrees C for 1-6 hr (dynamic hypothermia) or by preserving the liver in the refrigerator at +4 degrees C from 1 to 168 hr (static hypothermia). The correlation between the type and duration of the preservation procedure and the observed variation of the parameters studied indicates significant advantages in the continuous perfusion method over storage in the refrigerator.