Localization of an increasing vascular resistance in the choline deficint diet induced cirrhosis of the rat liuer as determined by direct measurements of blood pressures in minute vessels of the liver

Abstract

In order to determine the localization of an increasing vascular resistance in cirrhosis of the liver, blood pressures in several key points of the hepatic vascular pathway were measured in the normal and choline deficient diet induced liver cirrhosis of the rat. Blood pressures of the intrahepatic terminal portal and central vein were measured by means of the micropuncture technique. The mean blood pressure of the normal rat was; 110mm H₂O in the portal vein (liver hilum), 68mm H₂O in the terminal portal vein, 28mm H₂O in the central vein and 20mm H₂O in the inferior vena cava at the hepatic vein orifice. The mean portal vein and the terminal portal vein blood pressure of the choline deficient diet induced cirrhosis rat elevated significantly up to 173mm H₂O and to 100mm H₂O respectively, but no significant change was detected in the central vein and in the inferior vena cava. These data suggest that an increase in vascular resistance in the cirrhotic liver is present in both the intrahepatic portal vein and the sinusoid, and not in the hepatic venous tree.