ABSTRACT
AIM: To study the possible endogenous sources of glucose in the absence of the liver (equivalent to the anhepatic period of liver transplantation). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A experimental model of total functional hepatectomy in anesthetized rabbits was developed. The aorta and the right renal vein were catheterised in order to collect blood samples to measure glucose contents. The animals were divided into two groups: group 1, 5 animals underwent only norepinephrine infusion; group 2, 15 animals underwent norepinephrine infusion and submitted to total functional hepatectomy. RESULTS: In group 2, before the hepatectomy, arterial glucose levels were higher than venous ones and after the liver removal, the venous levels became higher than the arterial ones. This pattern showed an inversion in the glycemic curves. In group 1 this pattern was not observed. CONCLUSION: The glycemic curves behavior observed in group 2 its not due to norepinephrine infusion, but represents renal glucose release after total functional hepatectomy