Chronic Prehepatic Portal Hypertension in the Rat: Is it a Type of Metabolic Inflammatory Syndrome?

摘要

A progressive development of hepatic steatosis with an increase in the lipid hepatocyte content and the formation of megamitochondria have been demonstrated in rats with prehepatic portal hypertension. The aim of this study was to verify the existence of liver and serum lipid metabolism impairments in rats with long-term (2 years) portal hypertension. Portal hypertension in the rat presents changes in the lipid and carbohydrate metabolism similar to those produced in chronic inflammatory conditions and sepsis in humans. These underlying alterations could be involved in the development of hepatic steatosis and, therefore, in those described in the metabolic syndrome in humans.