Adrenergic response of splanchnic arteries from cirrhotic patients: role of nitric oxide, prostanoids, and reactive oxygen species.

Peripheral and splanchnic vasodilatation in cirrhotic patients has been related to hyporesponsiveness to vasoconstrictors, but studies to examine the vascular adrenergic response provide contradictory results. Hepatic arteries from cirrhotic patients undergoing liver transplantation and mesenteric arteries from liver donors were obtained. Segments 3 mm long from these arteries were mounted in organ baths for testing isometric adrenergic response.

Apelin effects in human splanchnic arteries. Role of nitric oxide and prostanoids.

Apelin effects were examined in human splanchnic arteries from liver donors (normal arteries) and from liver recipients. Segments 3 mm long were obtained from mesenteric arteries taken from liver donors (normal arteries), and from hepatic arteries taken from cirrhotic patients undergoing liver transplantation (liver recipients), and the segments were mounted in organ baths for isometric tension recording. In arteries under resting conditions, apelin (10(-10)-10(-6) M) caused no effect in any of the arteries tested.

Endothelium-dependent relaxation of isolated splanchnic arteries from cirrhotic patients: Role of reactive oxygen species.

Aim: To examine the endothelium-dependent relaxation of splanchnic arteries during cirrhosis as well as the role of reactive oxygen species in this relaxation using hepatic arteries from cirrhotic patients undergoing liver transplantation and mesenteric arteries from liver donors.

Methods: Arterial segments 3 mm long were mounted in organ baths for isometric tension recording and precontracted with the thromboxane A(2) analog U46619 (10(-7)-10(-6) M).

Results: The relaxation to acetylcholine (10(-8)-10(-4) M), but not to sodium nitroprusside (10(-8)-10(-4) M) was lower in hepatic arteries.