[Comparative biochemical and histological studies of the effect of magnesium and profound hypothermia on the preservation of the isolated perfused rat liver (author's transl)].

In order to determine, if magnesium aspartate has the same favorable effect on the liver as on the arrested heart, the isolated rat liver preperfused with isotonique Mg-aspartate or saline solution 15 minutes and stored 1 hour at 36 degrees C or 12 hours at 36 degrees C has been reperfused 150 minutes at 37 degrees C. During the storage the concentrations of ATP and ADP decrease significantly whereas AMP, lactate and beta-hydroxybutyrate increase remarkably, accompanied by a pronounced breakdown of glycogen. Upon reperfusion a de novo synthesis of ATP and ADP is resumed. Lactate, beta-hydroxybutyrate and AMP approach normal values whereas a resynthesis of glycogen is missing. A focal distribution of well preserved and disintegrated hepatocytes is being observed and seems rather to be due microcirculatory disorders. No conclusive evidence of a protective Mg-effect as observed in induced cardiac arrest has been obtained. Several concentrations of Mg-aspartate should be studied, in order to elucidate the different acting mechanism of Mg++ on the two organs.