Generation Of Coagulation Factors By The Isolated Rat Liver Perfused With A Synthetic Blood Substitute
Measuring the release of small amounts of a clotting factor from an isolated perfused rat liver is difficult if the perfusate already contains some of the factor. Further, platelet-containing perfusates generate a coagulant activity that may invalidate clotting assays.We have successfully employed a completely synthetic blood substitute for rat liver perfusions. The perfusate is “Fluosol-43” generously furnished by Alpha Therapeutic Corporation. The oxygen-carrying perfluorochemical is FC-43 (perfluorotributylamine) and the substitute for albumin is hydroxyethyl starch. Using the Brauer perfusion technique, we found that rat livers in 5 hours released an average of 2.3% of the normal plasma concentration of prothrombin, 8.4% factor V, 16.2% factor VII, 7.0% factor IX, 3.7% factor X, 28.3% factor XI and 12.3% factor XII. Antithrombin III and plasminogen were also generated.Only minute amounts of factor VIII were released unless serum, cryoprecipitate or cryoprecipitate-free plasma was added; then the yield was 8.8% on average. The more “venom factor” (platelet aggregability with Bothrops alternata venom) added to the synthetic perfusate, the more factor VIII was released.