Quantitative histochemical resolution of the oxidation-reduction and phosphate potentials within the simple hepatic acinus.

Abstract

Glycerin-3-P, commonly known as alpha-glycerophosphate and dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP) were measured in well defined microscopic samples of the simple liver acinus allowing a comparison of the glycerin-3-P/dihydroxyacetone-P-ratios of Zones 1 and 3 as a measure of the free NAD+/NADH ratio. The ATP/ADP X Pi quotients were determined in these same microscopic areas of the liver acinus as a measure of the phosphate potential. Brief ischemia was used to disturb the system. The results indicate that the oxidation-reduction and phosphate potentials are uniform throughout the entire liver lobule.