Hepatectomy and arterial blood ketone-body ratio. I. Changes in arterial blood ketone-body ratio following massive hepatectomy in relation to blood concentration of energy fuels.

The changes in energy charge of the remnant liver and ketone-body ratio (acetoacetate/3hydroxybutyrate) of arterial blood were examined in hepatectomized rabbits in relation to the blood energy fuels and the standard liver function tests. It is suggested that (a) the decrease in energy charge is the basis of the decreased hepatic functional reserve, (b) the chang巴 inenergy charge is accurately reflected by the change in blood ketone-body ratio and (c) the decreased blood ketone-body ratio is the basis of the sequential changes in the blood concentrations of fuels after hepatectomy.