BACKGROUND In the present study we determined the proportion of shunt flow due to patent intrahepatic portal systemic shunts in the normal rat liver and its relationship with microsphere induced portal hypertension. METHODS Systemic and hepatic haemodynamics were measured continuously before, during, and after intraportal injection of 15 micro m diameter microspheres in anaesthetised male Wis...

A mean decrease of 60% in liver blood volume was recorded by a plethysmographic technique during electrical stimulation of the hepatic nerves in anesthetized, vagotomized dogs. A decrease in pressure in the vascularly isolated carotid sinus to 40 mm Hg, from a mean control of 144 mm Hg, decreased liver blood volume by a mean of 16%; arterial blood pressure increased by a mean of 77 mm Hg. Carot...

objective(s): an increase in nitric oxide (no) production has been reported in cirrhotic cardiomyopathy and, portal hypertension. since minocycline has been shown to inhibit no overproduction, we aimed to examine its role in a rat model of ccl4-induced cirrhotic cardiovascular complications. materials and methods: portal pressure and inotropic responsiveness of isolated papillary muscles to iso...