Participation of adrenoceptors in liver blood flow regulation in anesthetized dogs.

We evaluated involvement of adrenergic receptors in the responses of the hepatic vasculature to reduction either of portal venous flow or hepatic arterial inflow. Portal vein occlusion caused an increase in hepatic arterial blood flow (HAF) and decreases in hepatic arterial pressure (HAP) and hepatic arterial vascular resistance (HAR) in the intact group. After pretreatment with either yohimbine or prazosin, but not propranolol, occlusion of the portal vein produced a greater decrease in HAP as compared with that in the intact group. No significant changes in HAF, HAR, or hepatic tissue blood flow (HTF) occurred after the treatment. These results indicate that the compensatory response of the hepatic arterial vasculature to altered portal blood flow (PVF) is regulated independently of the intrahepatic adrenergic receptors. Hepatic arterial occlusion caused a significant decrease in portal venous pressure, PVF, and HTF. Portal venous vascular resistance (PVR) was reduced slightly, but not significantly. After pretreatment with either yohimbine or prazosin, but not propranolol, occlusion of the hepatic artery produced an opposite effect: to increase PVF and significantly decrease PVR. These results indicate that intrahepatic alpha-adrenoceptors participate in the regulation of portal vascular tone to maintain portal vein pressure at a steady level, when inflow from the hepatic artery is reduced.