title: Combined use of propranolol and nifedipine offers better effects on portal vein nonuniform remodeling in carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced portal hypertensive rats.
abstract: Portal hypertension is a hemodynamic syndrome due to pathological increase in portal flow and portal pressure. These pathological changes in external flow loads will inevitably cause vascular remodeling in the portal vein, which is usually measured by an opening angle. The present study showed that carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced portal hypertension fully developed at 8 weeks and the opening angle of portal vein increased progressively in the pathogenesis of intrahepatic portal hypertension which was significantly augmented at 10 weeks. Although portal pressure and portal flow were reduced, treatment with either propranolol or nifedipine alone for 3 weeks did not decrease the augmented opening angle of the portal vein, while combined treatment with propranolol and nifedipine markedly reduced the increased opening angle of the portal vein and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) mRNA expression but not inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA expression. The decreasing effect of propranolol plus nifedipine on the elevated opening angle was significantly weakened by L-arginine and markedly reinforced by N-nitro-l-arginine-mythel-ester (L-NAME). These results indicate that combined use of propranolol and nifedipine ameliorates portal vein remodeling in portal hypertension at least by the nitric oxide-dependent way.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Zong-Qi
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Guo-Qiang
authors.initials: GQ
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Kai-Rong
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Zong-Lai
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride / Q000633:toxicity*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000235:genetics; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000235:genetics; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011433:Propranolol / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D004338:Drug Combinations; D011433:Propranolol; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D009543:Nifedipine