Effects of norepinephrine and histamine on vascular resistance in isolated perfused mouse liver

Mice have frequently been used for a variety of physiological studies because of the development of genetic engineering. However, the characteristics of hepatic vessels such as the vascular resistance distribution and the reactivity to various vasoconstrictors are not known in mice. We therefore determined the basal levels of segmental vascular resistances and the effects of histamine and norepinephrine on the vascular resistance distribution of mice. The liver of male non-inbred ddY mice was excised and perfused via the portal vein with 5% bovine albumin-Krebs solution at a constant flow rate. The sinusoidal pressure was measured by the double occlusion pressure and used to determine the presinusoidal (R(pre)) and postsinusoidal (R(post)) resistances. The basal R(post) comprised 53 +/- 1% of the total hepatic vascular resistance. The norepinephrine and histamine increased R(pre) in a greater magnitude than R(post) with liver weight loss. However, the response to histamine was weaker than that to norepinephrine. Moreover, histamine-induced vasoconstriction showed tachyphylaxis. In conclusion, the presinusoidal and postsinusoidal resistances of mouse livers were similar in magnitude. The presinusoidal vessels predominantly contract in response to norepinephrine and histamine in mouse livers.