Portal hypertension in acute experimental veno-occlusive disease of the liver in rats.

Portal pressure was measured in rats 1-14 days after an LD of dimethylnitrosamine (DMN). A significant rise of portal pressure was found at 5 and 7 days after the dose. Veno-occlusive lesions do not occur before 7 days in these animals. Control observations on rats receiving CCl showed no change in portal pressure attributable to centrilobular necrosis. Possible mechanisms for this rise of pressure are discussed.