Endothelin-1 belongs to a family of potent vasoconstrictors, recently isolated from endothelial cells.Endothelin-1 has a variety of hepatic effects and hepatic clearance from the circulation is important.Elevated plasma concentrations of Endothelin-1 are found after orthotopic liver transplantation and incirrhosis with ascites.This study in piglets on hepatic bloodflow was designed to compare differences in effects between centralvenous and intraportal injection of endothelin-1, and to evaluate effects of repeated injections. Centralvenous injection of endothelin-1 caused a larger reduction in portal vein flow, while intraportal injectioncaused a larger increase in portal vein pressure. Repeated injections resulted in a reduction in portal veinflow and an increase in portal vein vascular resistance.
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