title: Hepatic and Plasma Endothelin-1 in Dogs with Chronic Hepatitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Endothelin (ET)-1 is a 21-amino-acid peptide with potent vasoactive properties, which increases intrahepatic resistance in patients with chronic hepatitis (CH) or cirrhosis. ET-1 concentrations have not been investigated in dogs with CH.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study compared hepatic and plasma ET-1 levels in healthy dogs and in dogs with CH, and examined the relationship between the plasma ET-1 level and portal vein pressure in dogs with CH.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen healthy dogs and twenty dogs with CH were used in this study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective case-control study. Hepatic ET-1 mRNA expression was determined by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and hepatic and plasma ET-1 levels were assessed using ELISA. Splenic pulp pressure (SPP), as an indicator of portal vein pressure, was measured laparoscopically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hepatic ET-1 mRNA levels were 3.7 times higher in dogs with CH than in healthy dogs (P = .008). The median hepatic and plasma ET-1 protein levels were significantly higher in dogs with CH than in healthy dogs (13.20 pg/mg wet liver vs. 3.42 pg/mg wet liver, P = .004, and 0.99 pg/mL vs. 0.71 pg/mL, P = .013, respectively). Moreover, there was a weak but significant correlation between plasma ET-1 level and SPP in dogs with CH (P = .036; rs= 0.53).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate that ET-1 might play an important role in the pathogenesis of portal hypertension caused by CH.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6446-1629
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sakamoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Watari
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D004285:Dogs; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D019332:Endothelin-1
keywords: Canine; Chronic liver disease; Portal hypertension; Vasoactive peptide