Effects of ethanol on hepatic blood flow in the rat.

Hepatic blood flow measured by indocyanine green clearance was studied in rats after an acute intoxicating dose of ethanol (2 g/kg) or after chronic ethanol administration by feeding with alcohol liquid diets. Acute intoxication to normal animals did not modify hepatic blood flow. In chronically alcohol-fed rats, hepatic blood flow was significantly decreased when measured after 15 hr of abstinence. If ethanol was not withdrawn and an acute dose of ethanol was given before the indocyanine green clearance, a decreased hepatic blood flow was not observed. It is suggested that the reduction of hepatic blood flow in recently abstinent chronically alcohol-treated animals is related to the withdrawal syndrome.