Hepatic clearance and retention of aluminium: studies in the isolated perfused rat liver.
Aluminium (Al) exposure can result in Al accumulation in the liver and this metal can be toxic to the hepatic tissue at high concentrations. In the present study the model of the isolated perfused rat liver was used to investigate the hepatic handling of Al. Livers from male Wistar rats were perfused in a recirculating system for 240 min. The liver function remained unchanged at perfusate concentrations of Al ranging from 4.9 to 1530.0 micrograms/l. At higher Al levels of 6535.3-16694.9 micrograms/l signs of toxicity towards isolated perfused livers were observed as indicated by an increased release of the enzymes AST and ALT into the perfusate, a pronounced reduction of bile flow rate and a 50% suppression of oxygen consumption. The hepatic Al clearance was low and decreased with increasing concentrations of Al in the perfusate from 4.3 +/- 0.6 microliters/min per g liver at a nominal Al concentration of 9.1 micrograms/l in control perfusate to 0.04 +/- 0.02 microliter/min per g liver at the highest concentration group. There was almost a linear dose dependent retention of Al in the liver with 4.9-635.7 micrograms Al/l perfusate while at higher concentrations Al levels in this organ increased disproportionally. It is concluded that by using the isolated perfused rat changes of liver functions occur only at very high Al concentrations in the perfusate and that only negligible amounts of Al are eliminated by the liver.
Wilhelm
M
M
Institute of Hygiene, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Germany. Michael Wilhelm@uni-duesseldorf.de
Jaeger
D E
DE
Schüll-Cablitz
H
H
Hafner
D
D
Idel
H
H
D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000535:Aluminum / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D001646:Bile / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D010477:Perfusion; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D000535:Aluminum; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase