title: Endothelin 1 does not play a major role in the homeostasis of arterial pressure in cirrhotic rats with ascites.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Patients with cirrhosis and ascites have increased plasma levels of endothelin, a powerful vasoconstrictor peptide. This study assessed the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon.
  
  
  METHODS
  Plasma endothelin was measured in control rats and cirrhotic rats with and without ascites. In addition, the tissue concentration of endothelin and endothelin 1 messenger RNA (mRNA) and the effect of an endothelin A receptor antagonist on arterial and portal pressure were assessed in cirrhotic rats with ascites and control rats.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma endothelin levels were significantly higher in cirrhotic rats with ascites (24.5 +/- 2.8 pg/mL; P < 0.001) than in cirrhotic rats without ascites and control rats (7.9 +/- 2.0 and 5.8 +/- 0.9 pg/mL, respectively). In animals with ascites, endothelin and endothelin 1 mRNA content in the lung, kidney, and aorta was similar to that of the controls. In contrast, higher endothelin content (0.567 +/- 0.217 vs. 0.045 +/- 0.002 pg/mg protein; P < 0.05) and endothelin 1 mRNA was observed in hepatic tissue of rats with cirrhosis and ascites. Endothelin A receptor blockade was not associated with significant changes in arterial and portal pressure in any group of animals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased endothelin 1 mRNA and endothelin production occurs in the livers of cirrhotic rats with ascites. In addition, our findings suggest that endothelin is not involved with the homeostasis of arterial or portal pressure in cirrhosis with ascites.
authors.affiliation: Hormonal Laboratory, Hospital Clínic i Provincial, University of Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leivas
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jiménez
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lamas
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bosch-Marcé
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oriola
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Clària
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Arroyo
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rivera
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rodés
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001201:Ascites / Q000503:physiopathology; D001483:Base Sequence; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D016232:Endothelins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006706:Homeostasis; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008106:Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D016232:Endothelins; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C072247:cyclo(Trp-Asp-Pro-Val-Leu)