Vasodilatory responses of isolated arteries of cirrhotic rats.

1. There is currently considerable interest in the role of locally produced vasodilators such as nitric oxide and adenosine in the pathogenesis of the peripheral vasodilatation of cirrhosis. However, the signal transduction pathways involving guanylate cyclase and adenylate cyclase have not been clearly delineated in the isolated blood vessel. 2. We therefore aimed to examine the in vitro vasorelaxant effects of the endothelium-dependent dilator bethanechol, the endothelium-independent dilator sodium nitroprusside and adenosine, as drugs that work via activation of guanylate and adenylate cyclases, in isolated aortic and superior mesenteric arterial rings from cirrhotic and control rats. 3. Cirrhosis was induced by chronic bile duct ligation and section of 24-28 days' duration, while controls underwent sham operation. The vessels were precontracted with the alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonist phenylephrine, then relaxed by incremental doses of the three drugs. 4. Marked attenuation of vasoconstriction induced by phenylephrine in isolated aortic and mesenteric arterial rings from cirrhotic rats compared with the control vessels was observed. 5. There were no significant differences in relaxation between the cirrhotic and control vessels to the three drugs. We conclude that in vitro vasodilatory responses mediated through signal transduction pathways involving guanylate cyclase and adenylate cyclase remain unchanged in a rat model of biliary cirrhosis.

Mechanism of bile salt vasoactivity: dependence on calcium channels in vascular smooth muscle.

1. The vasoactive mechanisms of bile salts have been investigated in rat isolated portal venous and superior mesenteric arterial rings and perfused mesentery. 2. The isolated perfused mesentery was precontracted with a selective alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonist, cirazoline. Incremental doses of tauroursodeoxycholate (TUDC), taurochenodeoxycholate (TCDC) and taurodeoxycholate (TDC) caused a dose-dependent vasorelaxation. The order of potency of the vasodilator effect was TDC > TCDC > TUDC. 3. The effect of TDC (1.9 x 10(-8)-1.9 x 10(-6) mol) was examined before and after propranolol (3 microM), tetraethylammonium (5 mM), ouabain (10(-5) M), NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (10(-4) M) and capsaicin (50 mg kg-1) to block, respectively, beta-adrenoceptors, K+ -channels, Na+, K+-ATPase, nitric oxide synthase, and primary sensory nerves. The vasodilator effect of TDC was not affected by any of these blocking agents or by denuding vascular endothelium with distilled water. 4. Infusion of TDC (1.9 x 10(-8)-1.9 x 10(-6) mol) with K+-free or high K+ (60 mM) physiological salt solution (PSS) did not affect the vasodilator effect of TDC. 5. Contractions induced by KCl (0.01-1.0 M), arginine vasopressin (AVP, 10(-10)-10(-7) M) or cirazoline (10(-7) x 10(-5) M) were all inhibited by TDC (300 microM). 6. TDC (10(-6) to 10(-3) M) also inhibited the basal tension and the development of spontaneous contractions in the isolated portal vein. 7. TDC (300 microM), however, did not affect noradrenaline-induced phasic contractions elicited in Ca(2+)-free PSS by Ca2+ release from intracellular stores. 8. We conclude that TDC inhibits Ca2+ entry through both voltage-operated and receptor-operated calcium channels, whereas intracellular Ca2+ release is not affected.

Vasoactive effects of bile salts in cirrhotic rats: in vivo and in vitro studies.

To clarify a possible pathogenic role for bile salts in the hyperdynamic circulation of cirrhosis, we studied the vasoactive effects of three different bile salts-tauroursodeoxycholic acid, taurochenodeoxycholic acid and taurodeoxycholic acid-in cirrhotic rats. Cirrhosis was induced with bile duct ligation; controls underwent sham surgery. In vivo, the bile salts were intravenously infused at one of three doses (1.2 x 10(-7), 1.2 x 10(-6) and 6.0 x 10(-5) mol x 100 gm-1 x min-1) for 5 min. Taurochenodeoxycholic acid and taurodeoxycholic acid infusions increased mesenteric arterial blood flow and conductance and induced systemic arterial hypotension, whereas tauroursodeoxycholic acid had no significant effect. At similar plasma levels of bile salts, the responses in cirrhotic rats were attenuated compared with those of controls. In vitro, isolated rings of superior mesenteric and carotid arteries and portal vein were precontracted with phenylephrine; then dilatory responses to cumulative doses of bile salts (10(-6) to 10(-3) mol/L) were measured. In all three vessels, taurodeoxycholic acid produced stronger dilatory effects than did taurochenodeoxycholic acid, whereas tauroursodeoxycholic acid showed no significant effect. Vessels from cirrhotic and control rats did not differ in degree of response. These results indicate that bile salts are directly vasoactive and can induce splanchnic vasodilation at the pathophysiological plasma levels seen in cirrhosis. Bile salts may be involved in the pathogenesis of splanchnic hyperemia and hyperdynamic circulation in cirrhosis.

Adenosine receptor blockade reduces splanchnic hyperemia in cirrhotic rats.

To explore a possible role for adenosine in the pathogenesis of the splanchnic hyperemia of cirrhosis, we administered 8-phenyltheophylline, a specific adenosine receptor antagonist, to rats with biliary cirrhosis caused by bile duct ligation and to control sham-operated rats. Micro-Doppler flow studies showed that a 10-mumol/kg dose of 8-phenyltheophylline completely abolished the superior mesenteric hyperemic response to infusions of exogenous adenosine in both cirrhotic and control rats. Analysis of regional blood flows by radioactive microspheres demonstrated that this dose of 8-phenyltheophylline in cirrhotic rats significantly increased portal tributary vascular resistance by 60% and decreased portal tributary blood flow by 26%. This decrease was entirely the result of a 42% reduction in the intestinal blood flow. 8-phenyltheophylline did not affect cardiac output, arterial pressure or any other extrasplanchnic hemodynamic variables in cirrhotic rats. No detectable effect of 8-phenyltheophylline was seen in sham-operated rats. These results suggest that adenosine may be involved in the genesis of splanchnic hyperemia in cirrhotic rats.