In vivo estimation of oxygen saturation of hemoglobin in hepatic lobules in rats.

We developed a system for the in vivo estimation of oxygen saturation of hemoglobin in the sinusoidal blood of periportal and pericentral regions of hepatic lobules in rats. There was a marked heterogeneity in blood oxygenation and oxygen gradients within hepatic lobules. The sinusoidal blood oxygenation was reduced in some pericentral regions within hepatic lobules following acute ethanol ingestion, suggesting an occurrence of perivenular hypoxia in the liver after acute ethanol consumption.