Controlled Vasoregulation of Postischemic Liver Microcirculation - A Therapeutic Approach

Abstract

One of the changes produced by ischemia and reperfusion is endothelin (ET)-mediated constriction of the hepatic vascular bed. This leads to microcirculatory disturbances and reduced blood flow, thereby causing local hypoxia and liver damage. Our aim was to induce stepwise changes of microvascular vessel diameters so as to define the best protective vessel width that could be produced by drug therapy and thereby to minimize ischemia/reperfusion injury. The mixed ET receptor antagonist bosentan was used in different dosages in a rat liver ischemia/reperfusion model with splenocaval shunt. In vivo microscopy was performed 30-90 min after reperfusion and local hepatic tissue pO2