US EPA

6327913 

Journal Article 

Evaluation of some mitochondrial functions following liver perfusion with perfluorotributylamine emulsions 

Branca, D; Scutari, G; Siliprandi, N; Vincenti, E; Gambaretto, G 

1988 

Yes 

Biochemical Pharmacology
ISSN: 0006-2952
EISSN: 1873-2968 

37 

12 

2479-2481 

English 

3390210 

10.1016/0006-2952(88)90377-2 

WOS:A1988N976700023 

The term perfluorocarbons identifies a group of compounds obtained from hydrocarbons, amines or ethers by complete substitution of hydrogens with fluorine [1]. In the last decade renewed attention has been focused to perfluorocarbons because of their ability to dissolve significant quantities of oxygen and carbon dioxide. For this reason emulsions of these compounds have been utilized as blood substitutes both for oxygen supply and circulating volume replacing. Owing to the complete immiscibility with water, the preparation of reasonably stable emulsions of perfluorocarbons requires addition of tensioactives, which adds further problems for the toxicity or side effects of the latter compounds (for a review see Ref. 1). Experiments on perfused rat liver in which the rate of albumine synthesis, lysine incorporation and bile secretion have been evaluated led to the conclusion that upon prolonged perfusion with perfluorocarbon liver was in a good functional state [2]. In order to evaluate further the use of perfluorocarbon emulsions as oxygen supplying systems and their possible damaging action, we have examined some of the most significant energy-linked processes of mitochondria isolated from rat livers perfused in situ for 60 min with a perfluorotributylamine emulsion. The results reported in the present paper clearly show that perfluorotributylamine emulsions significantly protect mitochondria, isolated from perfused livers, respiring in the presence of NAD-linked substrates.