[Measurement of liver circulation by means of an ultrasonic Doppler flow measuring device].

The ultrasonic-Doppler technique is a very simple method for flow measurement. With this method the generally accepted mechanism of hepatic arterial flow increase after reduction or interruption of the portal vein flow could be confirmed. The increase was not related to cardiac output. Previous doubts about the portal vein flow behaviour after suppression of hepatic artery flow were decided, joining the little group of authors, who did not observe a variation of the portal vein flow in this condition. The concept of the autoregulation of the liver blood supply seems to be connected to the hepatic arterial system only. Although an increase of the hepatic artery flow after infusion of isoproterenol supports the existance of beta-receptors in the hepatic arterial system, it could be proved, that there was no reduction after propranolol infusion. This suggests, that autoregulation of the liver blood supply is not connected to the beta-receptors only.