Autofluorescence spectroscopy of rat liver during experimental transplantation procedure. An approach for hepatic metabolism assessment
Abstract
Ischemia–reperfusion injury, a major cause of organ metabolic alterations and consequent dysfunction in liver transplantation, could be overcome by optimizing organ preservation procedures. The potential of autofluorescence analysis was investigated with the aim to define parameters suitable for in vivo monitoring tissue functionality. Spectrofluorometric analysis was performed on explanted rat livers during cold storage, under standard (4 °C University of Wisconsin medium for 20 h) and purposely damaging (4 °C Eurocollins medium for 20, 43 and 72 h) preservation conditions, and reperfusion (rewarming–reoxygenation). For both preservation conditions, cold hypoxia caused a signal amplitude increase, mainly attributable to NAD(P)H, and a spectral shape modification, ascribable to changes in the relative contributions of NAD(P)H and