In this study, the importance of antioxidants during oxygenated liver preservation has been investigated. Livers were excised from rats after 60 min of cardiac arrest and stored for 24 h at 4 degrees C in University of Wisconsin solution (UW). Gaseous oxygen was applied to the livers during the storage period via the caval vein after superoxide dismutase (SOD, 600 U/mL), taurine (0.5 mg/mL), or no antioxidant was applied to the graft with the rinse solution. It was shown that oxygen persufflation significantly enhanced the viability of livers during cold preservation only in combination with SOD or taurine, which were both equally effective in reducing lipid peroxidation, enzyme release, and vascular resistance upon postischemic reperfusion. An increase in hepatic bile production was also observed.