Investigations into the Actions of Vasopressin Histamine, Isoproterenol, Phentolamine, Phenylephrine, and Propronalol on Flow Through Perfused Rat Livers

Abstract

The problem. The experiments were intended to elucidate any intrahepatic actions of the drugs employed as presinusoidal or postsinusoidal and to identify any antagonism of the drugs to others. Procedure. Livers were excised and perfused at a constant rate through the portal vein with different drugs and at different concentrations. Absolute pressure and change of weight were recorded continuously. Findings. No consistent effects were found with the methods employed. Several factors were not important to this lack of action and several others appear possibly important. Recommendations. Further investigation should be undertaken to identify a procedure that will show actions for those drugs and oxytocin. Once a procedure is identified, any actions of the drugs should be characterized as pre- or postsinusoidal, and the adrenergic agonists, histamine, and vasopressin should be tested for antagonism of each other. Dog livers as well as rat livers and healthy as well as cirrhotic livers should be tested because they would provide important data to compare with other research.