Effects of ethanol and wine on hepatic arterial and portal venous flows in conscious dogs.

The effects of ethanol and wine on hepatic arterial and portal venous flows were examined in conscious dogs. Ethanol was given intravenously or intragastrically, and red wine (ethanol: 14%) was given intragastrically over 30 min. Intravenous ethanol (0.8 g/kg) and intragastric ethanol (14% vol/vol) increased hepatic arterial flow, which remained elevated for 60 min after the cessation of ethanol administration. Ethanol also increased portal venous flow. Portal venous flow returned gradually toward basal levels after the cessation of intravenous ethanol infusion, whereas it remained elevated even after the cessation of intragastric ethanol. Intragastric wine increased hepatic arterial and portal venous flows. In contrast to intragastric ethanol, hepatic arterial flow continued to rise after the cessation of intragastric wine infusion, while portal venous flow returned toward basal levels. We conclude that, though both ethanol and wine increase hepatic blood flow, the responses of hepatic arterial and portal venous flows differ substantially among intravenous ethanol, intragastric ethanol and intragastric wine.