Effect of hepatic artery embolization on the adenylate energy charge level and the redox state of the cirrhotic liver.

Hepatic energy charge ((ATP + 1/2ADP)/(ATP + ADP + AMP)) and arterial blood ketone body ratio (acetoacetate/3-hydroxybutyrate) were measured after hepatic artery embolization in carbon-tetrachloride-induced cirrhotic rats. In normal livers, energy charge slightly decreased at 3 h and returned to normal levels at 6 h. By contrast, in cirrhotic livers, energy charge was drastically decreased at 3 h after embolization and was not completely recovered at 6 h. Blood ketone body ratio, reflecting hepatic mitochondrial redox (NAD+/NADH) state, also decreased at 3 h after embolization in both groups, and its recovery was not observed in cirrhotic group at 6 h.