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Hyperglucagonemia and hyperkinetic circulation after portocaval shunt in the rat

Journal Article · · Am. J. Physiol.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6294702

The study was aimed at investigating whether increased portal venous inflow (PVI) after portocaval shunt (PCS) in the rat is the result of selective splanchnic vasodilatation or whether it is part of a generalized circulatory disturbance. Rats with PCS and sham-operated controls were studied 2 wk after surgery by measuring cardiac output (CO), PVI, and hepatic artery flow (HAF) with radioactive microspheres (V Cr and UC). Plasma glucagon (GL) was measured by radioimmunoassay. PCS rats had increased CO and reduced arterial pressure and total peripheral resistance. PVI was markedly increased, but this appeared to be part of a generalized circulatory disturbance, since when PVI is expressed as percent of CO no difference is observed between PCS and sham-operated rats, indicating the absence of a preferential splanchnic vasodilatation. GL increased after PCS, and significant correlations were observed between GL and CO and between GL and PVI. HAF increased after PCS but did not compensate the loss of portal flow, evidence by a lower total hepatic flow in PCS rats. These results suggest that PCS induces a hyperkinetic circulatory state in which increased PVI represents its splanchnic manifestation and that increased GL release may be in part responsible for these hemodynamic changes.

Research Organization:
Hospital Clinic i Provincial de Barcelona, Spain
OSTI ID:
6294702
Journal Information:
Am. J. Physiol.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. J. Physiol.; (United States) Vol. 252:2; ISSN AJPHA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English