Contribution of mitochondria to injury of hepatocytes and liver tissue by hyperthermia

In this study the pattern of the adverse changes in mitochondrial functions that are progressing with increase in liver perfusion temperature was established. Results of experiments on isolated mitochondria and isolated hepatocytes indicate that hyperthermic treatment significantly and irreversibly inhibits energy-supplying function of mitochondria under conditions similar to those existing in the radiofrequency ablation transition zone and these changes can lead to death of hepatocytes. However, it was not possible to estimate contribution of mitochondrial injury to liver tissue energy status by estimating only hyperthermia-induced changes in adenine nucleotide amounts on the whole tissue level.