Prehepatic portal hypertension induces alterations in cytochrome oxidase activity in the rat adrenal gland.
One approach to assess neuroendocrine response to portal hypertension in short-term portal vein-stenosed rats consists in studying metabolic and functional activity patterns in adrenal glands using mitochondrial enzyme cytochrome c oxidase (COX) as a histochemical marker. Male Wistar rats were divided into two groups: a control group (Group I; n = 8), in which the animals did not undergo any operative intervention, and a triple calibrated portal vein stenosis group (TPVS) (Group II; n = 7). The sections of suprarenal glands were histochemically stained for COX and the optical densitometry was measured by a computer image analyzer attached to a microscope. In TPVS rats, COX activity in the adrenal gland cortex is lower than in control rats and affects the fascicular (52.30, 47.16-60.98, vs. 67.12, 60.31-73.89, p = .002), glomerular (49.68, 46.19-53.56 vs. 70.47, 64.64-73.51, p < .001), and reticular (47.35, 35.63-54.39, vs. 55.37, 49.76-58.97; p < .05) layers. In contrast, COX activity in the adrenal gland medulla is similar in TPVS rats and in control rats (29.91, 29.54-31.18, vs. 29.67, 28.95-30.23). The changes in adrenocortical COX activity in short-term-TPVS rats could constitute a pathogenic factor for both splanchnic and systemic hyperdynamic circulations, described in this experimental model of prehepatic portal hypertension.
López
Laudino
L
Psychobiology Laboratory, School of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Principado de Asturias, Spain.
Aller
Maria-Angeles
MA
Miranda
Ruben
R
Sánchez-Patán
Fernando
F
Nava
Maria-Paz
MP
Arias
Jaime
J
Arias
Jorge-Luis
JL
D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001835:Body Weight; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000378:metabolism*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008642:Mesenteric Veins; D009929:Organ Size; D017082:Portal Pressure; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013152:Splanchnic Circulation
D015415:Biomarkers; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV