Usefulness of ³¹P-MRS as a method of evaluating the viability of preserved and transplanted rat liver

Abstract

We used phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy (³¹P-MRS) to evaluate the viability of transplanted rat liver. Wistar rats were used as donors and recipients. The donor livers were preserved in saline (group 1), Euro-Collins solution (group 2), or in University of Wisconsin (UW) solution (group 3) for 3 and 6 h in groups 1,2 and 3 and for 9 h in groups 2 and 3. Thereafter the livers were orthotopically transplanted. ³¹P-MRS spectra were measured after portal reperfusion. Finally, all the recipients were divided into survivors and non-survivors. Survival rates were better in group 3 than in groups 1 and 2. In the 9-h-preserved livers, the livers in group 3 showed a significantly higher β-ATP/Pi ratio than those in group 2. Comparing survivors and non-survivors in the 6-h-preserved livers in group 2, survivors’ livers showed significantly higher β-ATP/Pi ratio than those of non-survivors. We concluded that ³¹P-MRS is a useful method for assessing viability of rat liver grafts.