The reticuloendothelial system and hepatocyte function in orthotopic liver transplantation

The reticulendothelial system function, especially phagocytic activity, and hepatocyte function were investigated in dogs which underwent the orthotopic liver transplantation. The donor's phagocytic index, measured by lipid emulsiono test, was higher in the group which survived more than 3 days after transplantation (0.063±0.008 vs 0.024±0.002, mean±SEM, p＜0.01). There was a statistically significant difference in phagocytic index between survivor and nonsurvivor groups. But hepatocyte function at an early phase aftertransplantation, indicated by the arterial ketone body ratio, Hepaplastin test and lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase, did not distinguish the survivors from the nonsurvivor group at all. In the survivor group, Hepaplastin test and lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase were significantly decreased after liver transplantation, namely from 155±15% to 58±5% and from 57±12unit/ml to 19±1unit/ml on 2nd day after transplantation (p＜0.01, p＜0.05), respectively. On the other hand, the RES function estimated by the phagocytic index and CH50 demonstrated no change throughout the experiment period. The present study demonstrated that the operative results might be affected by the phagocytic activity but not by the hepatocyte function at all. It is suggested that measuring not only the hepatocyte function but also the reticuloendothelial system function is of value in evaluating the liver function at orthotopic liver transplantation.