Role of prostacyclin in the splanchnic hyperemia contributing to portal hypertension

J. V. Sitzmann, G. B. Bulkley, M. C. Mitchell, K. Campbell

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

81 Scopus citations

Abstract

To determine the possible role of prostacyclin (PGI2) as a mediator of the splanchnic hyperemia seen with portal hypertension, the portal and mesenteric hemodynamics in normal and portal hypertensive rabbits were studied before and after cyclo-oxygenase blockade. Three weeks after partial portal vein ligation, splenic pulp pressure was elevated from 4.3 ± 0.9 to 9.8 ± 0.8 mmHg (p < 0.01). Mesenteric blood flow increased from 77.0 ± 4.7 ml · min-1 · 100 g-1 to 99.1 ± 5.19 ml/min-1/100 g-1. Mesenteric vascular resistance fell from 0.82 ± 0.6 mmHg/ml-1/min-1 to 0.49 ± 0.07 mmHg/ml-1/min-1 (p < 0.01). These hemodynamic changes were associated with a 27.3 ± 0.2% rise in systemic arterial levels of PGI2 (p < 0.01) and were substantially ameliorated by cyclo-oxygenase blockade with indomethacin. The effects of indomethacin blockade were reserved by exogenous PGI2. Moreover, in normotensive rabbits, infusion of PGI2 reproduced the splanchnic hyperemia and caused a very small but significant increase in portosystemic shunting. These findings support the previously proposed concept that splanchnic hyperemia may contribute to the maintenance of chronic portal hypertension. Furthermore, they suggest that this effect may be partially mediated by splanchnic PGI2 production.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)322-327
Number of pages6
JournalAnnals of surgery
Volume209
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 1989

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery

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