Angiotensin Ii or Epinephrine Hemodynamic and Metabolic Responses in the Liver of L-Name Induced Hypertension and Spontaneous Hypertensive Rats

AIMTo study hepatic vasoconstriction and glucose release induced by angiotensin (Ang) II or Epi in rats with pharmacological hypertension and spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR).METHODSIsolated liver perfusion was performed following portal vein and vena cava cannulation; Ang. or epinephrine (Epi) was injected in bolus and portal pressure monitored; glucose release was measured in perfusate aliquots.RESULTSThe portal hypertensive response (PHR) and the glucose release induced by Ang. of L-NAME were similar to normal rats (WIS). On the other hand, the PHR induced by Epi in L-NAME was higher whereas the glucose release was lower compared to WIS. Despite the similar glycogen content, glucose release induced by Ang. was lower in SHR compared to Wistar-Kyoto rats although both PHR and glucose release induced by Epi in were similar.CONCLUSIONAng. and Epi responses are altered in different ways in these hypertension models. Our results suggest that inhibition of NO production seems to be involved in the hepatic effects induced by Epi but not by Ang.; the diminished glucose release induced by Ang. in SHR is not related to glycogen content.