Metabolic characteristics of the isolated perfused rat liver.

The use of the isolated perfused rat liver for quantitative biochemical studies of liver metabolism over an experimental period of as long as 4 hours is demonstrated. Respiration rates responded immediately to the addition of substrates and the liver could be restimulated by a second dose of substrate, respiration rates reflecting the nature of the substrate. Net amino nitrogen uptake was consistently exceeded by urea nitrogen production, the latter comparing favorably with in vivo rates. Fructose was rapidly removed from the perfusate by the liver, and the liver efficiently removed lactic acid formed by erythrocyte glycolysis. Ketone body production was continuous and within normal in vivo rates. Bile production declined gradually over a 4-hour period.