title: Hepatic venular pressures of rats, dogs, and rabbits.
abstract: We tested the hypotheses that the hepatic venule pressures (Phv), just downstream from the hepatic sinusoids, are closely similar (less than 2 mmHg) either to the portal venous pressure (Ppv), indicating a high hepatic venous resistance, or to the inferior vena cava (Pivc) pressure, indicating a high portal-sinusoidal venous resistance, as reported by previous investigators. A micropipette servo-null pressure measurement technique was used with rats, dogs, and rabbits. Phv, referred to the anatomic level of the vena cava, averaged 5.1 +/- 1.0, 6.4 +/- 1.1, and 5.4 +/- 1.0 (SD) mmHg in the rats, puppies, and rabbits, respectively. Ppv averaged 8.0 +/- 1.4, 10.8 +/- 2.2, and 7.4 +/- 1.5 mmHg, respectively. Norepinephrine infusion into the portal vein (1-5 micrograms.min-1.kg-1) caused Ppv to increase and the portal venous flow to decrease but did not significantly affect Phv. The hepatic venous circuit contributed 44 +/- 17% (rats) and 31 +/- 26% (dogs) of the total liver venous vascular resistance under control conditions. We conclude that the portal and sinusoidal vasculatures are the dominant, but not exclusive, resistance sites of the liver venous vasculature both at rest and during norepinephrine-induced vasoconstriction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis 46202-5120.
authors.forename: H G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Bohlen
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maass-Moreno
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Rothe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D004285:Dogs; D008102:Liver Circulation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000502:physiology*; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013045:Species Specificity; D014655:Vascular Resistance; D014699:Venules / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D009638:Norepinephrine