Published online Jun 18, 2017. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v9.i17.781
Peer-review started: December 19, 2016
First decision: March 28, 2017
Revised: April 28, 2017
Accepted: May 18, 2017
Article in press: May 19, 2017
Published online: June 18, 2017
Processing time: 181 Days and 2.7 Hours
To study hepatic vasoconstriction and glucose release induced by angiotensin (Ang)II or Epi in rats with pharmacological hypertension and spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR).
Isolated liver perfusion was performed following portal vein and vena cava cannulation; AngII or epinephrine (Epi) was injected in bolus and portal pressure monitored; glucose release was measured in perfusate aliquots.
The portal hypertensive response (PHR) and the glucose release induced by AngII of L-NAME were similar to normal rats (WIS). On the other hand, the PHR induced by Epi in L-NAME was higher whereas the glucose release was lower compared to WIS. Despite the similar glycogen content, glucose release induced by AngII was lower in SHR compared to Wistar-Kyoto rats although both PHR and glucose release induced by Epi in were similar.
AngII and Epi responses are altered in different ways in these hypertension models. Our results suggest that inhibition of NO production seems to be involved in the hepatic effects induced by Epi but not by AngII; the diminished glucose release induced by AngII in SHR is not related to glycogen content.
Core tip: Angiotensin (Ang)II and epinephrine (Epi) induce hemodynamic and metabolic responses in a normal liver. These responses are altered in different ways in two models of hypertension. We observed that inhibition of NO production seems to be involved in the hepatic hemodynamic and metabolic effects induced by Epi but not by AngII. Furthermore, diminished glucose release induced by AngII in spontaneously hypertensive rat is not related to glycogen content, but might be due to the glycogen phosphorylase activation by AngII.