The Bicarbonate Ion Concentration of Krebs‐henseleit Solution

Abstract

Isolated liver perfusion is a useful technique for the study of a variety of metabolic functions of the liver (Bartosek, Guaitani and Miller, 1973). The composition of the perfusate varies from laboratory to laboratory, but the one which is most widely used contains erythrocytes suspended in a plasma substitute, such as Krebs-Henseleit solution (Krebs and Henseleit, 1932), which may be supplemented vvath albumin and organic nutrients. Studies in our laboratory, using a perfusate such as this, have led to an examination of the [HCO.^'] of Krebs-Henseleit solution. We have found that the nominal [HCO3'] of Krebs-Henseleit, which is designed to approximate rat plasma, is inconsistent with the [HGOg'] measurable in this artificial physiological medium.Solutions prepared according to the formula of Krebs-Henseleit (Table 1) were gassed with carbogen of appropriate O2/CO2 content and analysed for [HCO3'] using the following four methods:

Determination of the Preferred Conditions for the Isolated Perfusion of Porcine Kidneys

“…Both constituents of the perfusate, blood and KHB solution, rely on bicarbonate to maintain the volatile equilibrium required to provide prompt resistance to drastic pH changes in both acidic and basic directions [34]. Bicarbonate is a vital component of the pH buffering system of the human body and can maintain acid-base homeostasis in conjunction with water, hydrogen ions and CO 2 .…”