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.
Psychobiology Laboratory, School of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Principado de Asturias, Spain.
Laudino
L
López
Maria-Angeles
MA
Aller
Ruben
R
Miranda
Fernando
F
Sánchez-Patán
Maria-Paz
MP
Nava
Jaime
J
Arias
Jorge-Luis
JL
Arias
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