Nonlinear resistances in hepatic microcirculation

1995 ◽  
Vol 269 (6) ◽  
pp. H1922-H1930 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Maass-Moreno ◽  
C. F. Rothe
Keyword(s):  
Portal Vein ◽  
Blood Volume ◽  
Venous Pressure ◽  
Vena Cava ◽  
Portal Venous Pressure ◽  
Hepatic Microcirculation ◽  
Nonlinear Characteristics ◽  
Nonlinear Mode ◽  
Pressure Transmission ◽  
Liver Surface

The liver provides a reservoir available for mobilizing large amounts of blood, but if a change in downstream (outflow) pressure below a certain magnitude (break pressure) does not change upstream pressures, blood volume redistribution may be limited. For downstream pressures larger than the break pressure, the upstream pressures change proportionately. We tested the hypothesis that this nonlinear mode of pressure transmission could be found from the abdominal vena cava to the hepatic microcirculation and from the hepatic microcirculation to the portal vein. Using a servo-null micropipette technique, we measured microvascular pressures at the liver surface of rabbits. In 16 of 30 measurements, increasing the pressure at the liver outflow, by partially occluding the caudal thoracic vena cava, caused an increase in hepatic venular pressure only after the abdominal vena caval pressure exceeded a break pressure of 2.85 +/- 0.92 mmHg. In 13 of 31 measurements, portal venous pressure was not changed until the hepatic venular pressure exceeded a break pressure of 3.36 +/- 0.54 mmHg. Similar behavior and values were obtained for sinusoids and portal venules. When present, the sharp inflection in the upstream-downstream pressure plots suggests that this may be caused by a Starling resistor-type mechanism. When the break was absent, the downstream pressure may have been larger than the break pressure. We conclude that significant hepatic resistances with nonlinear characteristics exist upstream and downstream to the central venules, sinusoids, and portal venules.

Hepatic venous resistance site in the dog: localization and validation of intrahepatic pressure measurements

1987 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 352-359 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dallas J. Legare ◽  
W. Wayne Lautt
Keyword(s):  
Blood Volume ◽  
Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Venous Pressure ◽  
Portal Pressure ◽  
Vena Cava ◽  
Pressure Rise ◽  
Vascular Occlusion ◽  
Portal Venous Pressure ◽  
Hepatic Veins ◽  
Venous Resistance

Intrahepatic pressure (9.4 ± 0.3 mmHg; 1 mmHg = 133.32 Pa), measured proximal to a hepatic venous resistance site, was insignificantly different from portal venous pressure (9.6 ± 0.4 mmHg). This lobar venous pressure is not wedged hepatic venous pressure as it is measured from side holes in a catheter with a sealed tip. Validation of the lobar venous pressure measurement was done in a variety of ways and using different sizes and configurations of catheters. The site of hepatic venous resistance in the dog is localized to a narrow sphincterlike region about 0.5 cm in length and within 1–2 cm (usually within 1 cm) of the junction of the vena cava and hepatic veins. Sinusoidal and portal venous resistance appears insignificant in the basal state and large increases in liver blood volume (histamine infusion or passive vena caval occlusion) or large decreases in liver blood volume (passive vascular occlusion) do not alter the insignificant pressure gradient between portal and lobar venous pressures. Norepinephrine infusion (1.25 μg∙kg−1∙min−1 intraportal) and hepatic sympathetic nerve stimulation (10 Hz) led to a significantly greater rise in portal venous pressure than in lobar venous pressure, indicating some presinusoidal (and (or) sinusoidal) constriction and this indicates that lobar venous pressure cannot be assumed under all conditions to accurately reflect portal pressure. However, most of the rise in portal venous pressure induced by intraportal infusion of norepinephrine or nerve stimulation and virtually all of the pressure rise induced by histamine could be attributed to the postsinusoidal resistance site. This site was highly localized since 62% of the pressure drop from the portal vein to the inferior vena cava in the basal state occurred over a 0.5-cm length. However, the anatomical position of this site was different in the dog compared with the cat.

Localization of intrahepatic portal vascular resistance

1986 ◽  
Vol 251 (3) ◽  
pp. G375-G381 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. W. Lautt ◽  
C. V. Greenway ◽  
D. J. Legare ◽  
H. Weisman
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Drop ◽  
Portal Vein ◽  
Vascular Resistance ◽  
Venous Pressure ◽  
Vena Cava ◽  
Sympathetic Nerves ◽  
Hepatic Veins ◽  
Pressure Changes ◽  
Stimulation Of ◽  
Anesthetized Cat

The pressure drop from the portal vein to the vena cava occurs primarily across a postsinusoidal site localized to a narrow segment (less than 0.5 cm) of hepatic veins (roughly 1.5 mm diam) in the anesthetized cat. Portal venous pressure (PVP = 8.9 +/- 0.3 mmHg) and lobar hepatic venous pressure (LVP = 8.7 +/- 0.4 mmHg) are insignificantly different, and pressure changes imposed from the presinusoidal or postsinusoidal side are equally transmitted to both pressure sites. Several types of experiments were done to validate the LVP measurement. The portal vein, hepatic sinusoids, and hepatic veins proximal to the resistance site are all under a similar pressure. Previously reported calculations of hepatic vascular resistance are in error because of incorrect assumptions of sinusoidal pressure and localization of the portal resistance site as presinusoidal. Stimulation of hepatic sympathetic nerves for 3 min caused LVP and PVP to increase equally, showing that the increased "portal" resistance is postsinusoidal across the same region of the hepatic veins that was previously localized as the site of resistance in the basal state.

Effect of portal hypertension on splenic blood flow, intrasplenic extravasation and systemic blood pressure

2003 ◽  
Vol 284 (6) ◽  
pp. R1580-R1585 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Kaufman ◽  
Jody Levasseur
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Blood Flow ◽  
Portal Hypertension ◽  
Portal Vein ◽  
Venous Pressure ◽  
Splenic Vein ◽  
Systemic Blood Pressure ◽  
Portal Venous Pressure ◽  
Systemic Blood ◽  
Fluid Extravasation

We have previously shown that intrasplenic fluid extravasation is important in controlling blood volume. We proposed that, because the splenic vein flows in the portal vein, portal hypertension would increase splenic venous pressure and thus increase intrasplenic microvascular pressure and fluid extravasation. Given that the rat spleen has no capacity to store/release blood, intrasplenic fluid extravasation can be estimated by measuring the difference between splenic arterial inflow and venous outflow. In anesthetized rats, partial ligation of the portal vein rostral to the junction with the splenic vein caused portal venous pressure to rise from 4.5 ± 0.5 to 12.0 ± 0.9 mmHg ( n = 6); there was no change in portal venous pressure downstream of the ligation, although blood flow in the liver fell. Splenic arterial flow did not change, but the arteriovenous flow differential increased from 0.8 ± 0.3 to 1.2 ± 0.1 ml/min ( n = 6), and splenic venous hematocrit rose. Mean arterial pressure fell (101 ± 5.5 to 95 ± 4 mmHg). Splenic afferent nerve activity increased (5.6 ± 0.9 to 16.2 ± 0.7 spikes/s, n = 5). Contrary to our hypothesis, partial ligation of the portal vein caudal to the junction with the splenic vein (same increase in portal venous pressure but no increase in splenic venous pressure) also caused the splenic arteriovenous flow differential to increase (0.6 ± 0.1 to 1.0 ± 0.2 ml/min; n = 8). The increase in intrasplenic fluid efflux and the fall in mean arterial pressure after rostral portal vein ligation were abolished by splenic denervation. We propose there to be an intestinal/hepatic/splenic reflex pathway, through which is mediated the changes in intrasplenic extravasation and systemic blood pressure observed during portal hypertension.

Splanchnic vascular capacitance and positive end-expiratory pressure in dogs

1991 ◽  
Vol 70 (2) ◽  
pp. 818-824 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Risoe ◽  
C. Hall ◽  
O. A. Smiseth
Keyword(s):  
Blood Volume ◽  
Venous Pressure ◽  
Portal Venous Pressure ◽  
Central Blood Volume ◽  
Positive End Expiratory Pressure ◽  
Splenic Volume ◽  
Vascular Volume ◽  
Vascular Capacitance ◽  
Anesthetized Dogs ◽  
Blood Volumes

We have investigated the effect of positive end-expiratory pressure ventilation (PEEP) on regional splanchnic vascular capacitance. In 12 anesthetized dogs hepatic and splenic blood volumes were assessed by sonomicrometry. Vascular pressure-diameter curves were defined by obstructing hepatic outflow. With 10 and 15 cmH2O PEEP portal venous pressure increased 3.1 +/- 0.3 and 5.1 +/- 0.4 mmHg (P less than 0.001) while hepatic venous pressure increased 4.9 +/- 0.4 and 7.3 +/- 0.4 mmHg (P less than 0.001), respectively. Hepatic blood volume increased (P less than 0.01) 3.8 +/- 0.9 and 6.3 +/- 1.4 ml/kg body wt while splenic volume decreased (P less than 0.01) 0.8 +/- 0.2 and 1.3 +/- 0.2 ml/kg body wt. The changes were similar with closed abdomen. The slope of the hepatic vascular pressure-diameter curves decreased with PEEP (P less than 0.01), possibly reflecting reduced vascular compliance. There was an increase (P less than 0.01) in unstressed hepatic vascular volume. The slope of the splenic pressure-diameter curves was unchanged, but there was a significant (P less than 0.05) decrease in unstressed diameter during PEEP. In conclusion, hepatic blood volume increased during PEEP. This was mainly a reflection of passive distension due to elevated venous pressures. The spleen expelled blood and thus prevented a further reduction in central blood volume.

Effects of endothelin in portal hypertensive rats

1992 ◽  
Vol 83 (2) ◽  
pp. 165-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pi-Chin Yu ◽  
Jon-Son Kuo ◽  
Han-Chieh Lin ◽  
May C. M. Yang
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Portal Hypertension ◽  
Portal Vein ◽  
Venous Pressure ◽  
Portal Venous Pressure ◽  
Portal Vein Ligation ◽  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
Hypertensive Rats ◽  
Endothelin 1 ◽  
Sprague Dawley Rats

1. Effects of endothelin-1 on systemic arterial blood pressure, heart rate and portal venous pressure were compared in normal Sprague-Dawley rats and rats with portal hypertension induced by CCl4 and partial portal vein ligation. 2. Endothelin-1 produced biphasic effects on systemic blood pressure and portal venous pressure in all three groups of rats. However, the magnitude of the changes in blood pressure was less in portal hypertensive rats. 3. The ability of endothelin-1 to increase the portal venous pressure was also significantly diminished in portal hypertensive rats. On the other hand, the initial decrease in portal pressure was augmented in rats with partial portal vein ligation, and disappeared at higher dosage in CCl4-treated rats. 4. In accordance with the pressure recording in vivo, the dose-response vasoconstrictive activity of endothelin-1 was significantly attenuated in the intrahepatic vasculature. 5. The plasma immunoreactive endothelin concentration was significantly higher (5.55 ± 0.81 fmol/ml) in Sprague-Dawley rats than in CCl4-treated rats (2.83 ± 0.56 fmol/ml) and rats with partial portal vein ligation (2.68 ± 0.53 fmol/ml). 6. It was concluded that a lower plasma level of endothelin and a reduced vascular responsiveness may contribute, at least in part, to the hyperdynamics of portal hypertension.

Hepatic venular pressures of rats, dogs, and rabbits

1991 ◽  
Vol 261 (3) ◽  
pp. G539-G547 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. G. Bohlen ◽  
R. Maass-Moreno ◽  
C. F. Rothe
Keyword(s):  
Inferior Vena Cava ◽  
Portal Vein ◽  
Inferior Vena ◽  
Venous Pressure ◽  
Vena Cava ◽  
Portal Venous Flow ◽  
Venous Flow ◽  
Norepinephrine Infusion ◽  
Venous Resistance ◽  
Venous Vasculature

We tested the hypotheses that the hepatic venule pressures (Phv), just downstream from the hepatic sinusoids, are closely similar (less than 2 mmHg) either to the portal venous pressure (Ppv), indicating a high hepatic venous resistance, or to the inferior vena cava (Pivc) pressure, indicating a high portal-sinusoidal venous resistance, as reported by previous investigators. A micropipette servo-null pressure measurement technique was used with rats, dogs, and rabbits. Phv, referred to the anatomic level of the vena cava, averaged 5.1 +/- 1.0, 6.4 +/- 1.1, and 5.4 +/- 1.0 (SD) mmHg in the rats, puppies, and rabbits, respectively. Ppv averaged 8.0 +/- 1.4, 10.8 +/- 2.2, and 7.4 +/- 1.5 mmHg, respectively. Norepinephrine infusion into the portal vein (1-5 micrograms.min-1.kg-1) caused Ppv to increase and the portal venous flow to decrease but did not significantly affect Phv. The hepatic venous circuit contributed 44 +/- 17% (rats) and 31 +/- 26% (dogs) of the total liver venous vascular resistance under control conditions. We conclude that the portal and sinusoidal vasculatures are the dominant, but not exclusive, resistance sites of the liver venous vasculature both at rest and during norepinephrine-induced vasoconstriction.

Maternal placental vascular compliance in rabbits

1978 ◽  
Vol 234 (3) ◽  
pp. H289-H292
Author(s):  
G. L. Brownfield ◽  
R. D. Gilbert ◽  
G. G. Power
Keyword(s):  
Blood Volume ◽  
Inferior Vena ◽  
Venous Pressure ◽  
Vena Cava ◽  
Placental Tissue ◽  
Total Resistance ◽  
Intervillous Space ◽  
New Zealand White Rabbits ◽  
Placental Blood ◽  
Placental Volume

We studied compliance on the maternal side of the placenta of 20 New Zealand white rabbits, using 51Cr and 125I labels to determine erythrocyte, plasma, and whole-blood volumes per gram of placental tissue under varying maternal pressure conditions. At normal maternal arterial (Pa) and venous (Pv) pressures of 71.8 and 5.5 mmHg, placental blood volume (mean +/- SE) was 0.447 +/- 0.051 ml/g placental tissue. When venous pressure was raised (Pa = 45.5, Pv = 12.2) by occluding the inferior vena cava, blood volume increased to 0.729 +/- 0.068 ml/g, a significant 63% rise. However, when arterial pressure was lowered by occluding the aorta in two steps, dropping to Pa = 33.8, Pv = 7.0, and Pa = 13.5, Pv = 5.4, volume did not decrease significantly. We estimated intervillous space pressure (Pivs) from arterial and venous pressures assuming a ratio of venous to total resistance of 0.02. Compliance calculated from the slope of Pivs vs. volume was 0.0471 ml/mmHg per g. Maternal placental hematocrit averaged 27%, appreciably less than the circulating hematocrit of 38%. Overall, the results suggest that placental volume would be maintained during hypotension and would increase when venous pressure is elevated.

Portal venous pressure and portasystemic shunting in experimental portal hypertension

1989 ◽  
Vol 257 (1) ◽  
pp. G52-G57 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. G. Geraghty ◽  
W. J. Angerson ◽  
D. C. Carter
Keyword(s):  
Portal Hypertension ◽  
Portal Vein ◽  
Venous Pressure ◽  
Portal Pressure ◽  
Rapid Change ◽  
Quadratic Function ◽  
Portal Venous Pressure ◽  
Portal Vein Ligation ◽  
Strong Positive Correlation ◽  
The Relationship

The relationship between portal venous pressure and the degree of portasystemic shunting was studied in portal vein-ligated and cirrhotic rats anesthetized with halothane. One day after partial portal vein ligation there was a strong positive correlation (r = 0.80, n = 7) between portal pressure and shunting of mesenteric venous blood as measured by injection of radioactive microspheres. The relationship subsequently underwent rapid change but stabilized by 14 days postligation, when higher levels of shunting were again associated with higher portal pressures up to a limit of approximately 70% shunting, above which pressures did not increase further. This relationship was well described by a quadratic function (r = 0.75, n = 17). In cirrhotic rats there was no relationship between portal pressure and shunting (r = -0.01, n = 10). The results suggest that in the prehepatic model there is little inherent variability in capacity to develop shunts, which open to a degree directly related to portal pressure, but that this relationship may be altered in cirrhotic portal hypertension.

Problems associated with the measurement of mean circulatory filling pressure by the atrial balloon technique in anaesthetized rats

1992 ◽  
Vol 70 (2) ◽  
pp. 233-239 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linong Cheng ◽  
Andrew J. Rankin
Keyword(s):  
Portal Vein ◽  
Blood Volume ◽  
Volume Expansion ◽  
Inferior Vena ◽  
Vena Cava ◽  
Filling Pressure ◽  
Volume Depletion ◽  
Portal Vein Pressure ◽  
Mean Circulatory Filling Pressure ◽  
Pressure Equilibrium

To examine the existence of pressure equilibrium between tributary veins and the central vena cava during the mean circulatory filling pressure manoeuvre, pressures in the hepatic portal vein, renal vein, and inferior vena cava were determined at 4-s intervals over a 20-s period of circulatory arrest induced by inflating a right atrial balloon in normal blood volume, 10% volume depletion, and 10% volume expansion states in urethane-anaesthetized rats. Portal vein pressure determined 8 s after arrest during volume depletion and expansion was significantly higher than vena caval pressure (6.2 ± 0.8 vs. 3.4 ± 0.2 and 7.7 ± 0.5 vs. 6.2 ± 0.4 mmHg (1 mmHg = 133.32 Pa), respectively; p < 0.01): this pressure disequilibrium continued for 16 s during volume expansion and for the entire 20 s during volume depletion. Renal vein pressure was equal to vena caval pressure during this manoeuvre. Portal vein pressure at normal blood volume was not significantly different from vena caval pressure following circulatory arrest (4.6 ± 0.3 vs. 3.8 ± 0.4 mmHg, respectively). Following ganglionic blockade, portal vein pressure was still significantly higher than vena caval pressure for 12 s during volume alterations. At the 8th s of the arrest the portal pressure determined in volume depletion was 3.6 ± 0.3 mmHg and the inferior vena caval pressure was 2.6 ± 0.4 mmHg (p < 0.05). Under the volume expansion condition, the respective values were 6.5 ± 0.3 and 5.3 ± 0.4 mmHg (p < 0.05). We conclude that, under conditions of blood volume alterations, there is no pressure equilibrium between the portal vein and the inferior vena cava when mean circulatory filling pressure is measured by this technique; a transhepatic barrier independent of reflex control during the measurement of mean circulatory filling pressure appears to play a role in obstructing the establishment of pressure equilibrium within the venous system.Key words: mean circulatory filling pressure, vascular capacitance, hepatic portal vein pressure, unstressed volume.

scholarly journals The relationship between intrahepatic portal systemic shunts and microsphere induced portal hypertension in the rat liver

Gut ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 276-282 ◽  
Author(s):  
X Li ◽  
I S Benjamin ◽  
B Alexander
Keyword(s):  
Blood Flow ◽  
Portal Hypertension ◽  
Steady State ◽  
Portal Vein ◽  
Rat Liver ◽  
Venous Pressure ◽  
Portal Venous Pressure ◽  
Portal Vein Ligation ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Wedged Hepatic Venous Pressure

Background—Portal hypertension is associated with gross haemodynamic disturbances characterised by high cardiac output, low peripheral vascular resistance, increased splanchnic blood flow, and portal systemic shunting.Aims—To study the relationship between intrahepatic portal systemic shunts and microsphere induced portal hypertension in the rat liver.Methods—Different sized microspheres were sequentially injected into the portal vein of male Wistar rats.Results—Steady state portal venous pressure was increased by 102.2 (35.6)% (14.9 (3.6) mm Hg) and 272.3 (78.0)% (24.0 (2.2) mm Hg) above the basal pressure following sequential injections of 15 and 80 μm diameter microspheres, respectively. Sequential injection of 15, 40, and 80 μm diameter microspheres in either ascending or descending order of size did not generate further increases in portal venous pressure. A single injection of 1.8 × 105 80 μm microspheres consistently produced a steady state portal venous pressure of 19.0 (1.3) mm Hg but did not approach the much higher value of 36.6 (43.2) mm Hg measured during clamping of the portal vein. These data indicate that the opening of patent intrahepatic shunts was responsible for the reduced pressures observed during microsphere injections and further evidence for this was provided by the location of microspheres in the pulmonary vascular bed. The elevation in portal venous pressure achieved by microsphere injections was not significantly different to that produced in rats subjected to partial portal vein ligation (20.7 (0.5) mm Hg, p>0.05). Wedged hepatic venous pressure decreased from 6.7 (0.7) to 3.0 (0.6) mm Hg following injection of 80 μm microspheres, suggesting a decrease in total hepatic blood flow. Conversely, injection of 15 μm microspheres induced an increase in wedged hepatic venous pressure from 7.0 (1.0) mm Hg to 12.4 (1.8) mm Hg, indicating a localised redistribution of blood flow at the presinusoidal level of the portal venous vascular network and increased intrahepatic shunt flow.Conclusion—It is suggested that there may be a protective pathophysiological role for these shunts when the liver is subjected to changes which induce acute portal hypertension.

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