IN VIVO BUT NOT IN VITRO MESENTERIC VASCULAR REACTIVITY IS ABNORMAL IN THE RAT CARBON TETRACHLORTOE MODEL OF PORTAL HYPERTENSION

摘要

Background: Portal hypertension, as seen in chronic liver diseases, is associated with mesenteric and systemic vasodilatation. Vasodilatation underlies the peripheral oedema, ascites and renal impairment that complicate chronic liver disease. Controversy exists as to whether intrinsic hyporeactivity of resistance vessels contributes to this vasodilatation1. Differences between studies may relate to the model of portal hypertension used and the method of assessing vascular reactivity.