Transposition of the spleen in rats with portal hypertension.

Portal hypertension was induced in rats by progressive occlusion of the portal vein or by dimethylnitrosamine (DMNA) cirrhosis. Portasystemic venous connections did not develop in relation to the spleen when this organ was intraperitoneal, but after subcutaneous transposition most of the collaterals were parasplenic and the portal venous pressure fell.