Abstract
The hepatic galactose elimination kinetics was studied in eight anaesthetized pigs by hepatic vein catheterization. Galactose was given as successive constant intravenous infusions so that steady-state concentrations, ranging from 50 μmol/l to 8 mmol/l, were obtained. Concentrations were measured in a peripheral artery and in the hepatic veins. Hepatic blood flow was determined by constant infusion of indocyanine green. The elimination kinetics is described by a mathematical model which assumes that the liver sinusoids are perfused with unidirectional blood flow and that the elimination in the hepatocytes takes place according to Michaelis-Menten kinetics. This creates a decreasing sinusoidal blood concentration from the inlet to the outlet of the liver. The estimated maximal elimination rate, Vmax, was on average 0.67 mmol min-1 kg-1 liver (range 0.55–0.95) and the half saturation concentration Km 0.25 mmol/l (0.12–0.58). The estimate of Km is similar to the value found in the isolated perfused pig liver (0.23 mmol/l), whereas the estimate of Vmax is about 50% higher (0.43 mmol min-1 kg-1 liver), probably due to both extrahepatic elimination in the splanchnic area and a better function of the liver in situ than in the isolated preparation.