Effects of long-term propranolol administration on systemic and portal hemodynamics in rats in the development stage of liver cirrhosis induced by CCL4

Abstract

The effects of oral continual administration of propranolol on systemic and portal hemodynamics were studied in cirrhotic rats induced by subcutaneous injection of carbon tetrachloride. Compared with non-administered cirrhotic group, long-term administered cirrhotic group was found to have a significant decrease of portal venous pressure and intrahepatic portal resistance. But portal venous inflow and splanchnic arterial resistance were not significantly different between the two groups. Therefore, the long-term administration of propranolol decreased portal venous pressure by prevention of the elevation of intrahepatic portal resistance without affecting portal venous inflow. So we conclude that long-term administration of propranolol in the development stage of liver cirrhosis might be a good choice for treatment of portal hypertension