The blood supply of experimental liver metastases. VII. Further studies on increased tumor vascularity caused by epinephrine.

The effects of epinephrine on the vascularity of tumors within the liver of rats were studied by simultaneous injection of Microfil into the arterial and portal systems. A marked increase in perfusion of capillary-sized vessels within the central portions of the tumor was observed in both induced hepatomas and implanted Walker carcinosarcoma tumors. In studies with implanted tumors, the effect of epinephrine on enhancing vascularity internally was eliminated by the alpha adrenergic block agent phenoxybenzamine, but was not affected by the beta adrenergic blocking agent propranolol.