Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 14, 2026

Invasive Hemodynamic Characterization of the Portal-hypertensive Syndrome in Cirrhotic Rats
Published on: August 1, 2018
Chronic administration of propylthiouracil ameliorates hyperdynamic circulation in portal hypertensive rats
L Albornoz1, M de las Heras, M Bildózola
1Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Objective:
To evaluate the effect of a hypothyroid state, induced by chronic propylthiouracil administration, on splanchnic and systemic hemodynamic parameters in rats with portal hypertension due to portal vein ligation.
Methods:
Portal hypertension was induced by surgical stenosis of the portal vein. Cardiac index and portal blood flow were measured using radioactive microspheres. Measurements were performed after treatment with propylthiouracil (1 mg/ml in drinking water) for 5 days.
Results:
Propylthiouracil-treated portal hypertensive rats had a lower portal pressure (12.4 +/- 1.9 versus 16.3 +/- 0.7 mmHg; p < 0.05) and portal blood flow (11.6 +/- 0.7 versus 13.2 +/- 1.3 ml/min/100 g; p < 0.05) than non-treated animals. Splanchnic vasoconstriction in treated animals was associated with a higher peripheral vascular resistance (2.3 +/- 0.4 versus 1.8 +/- 0.3 mmHg/ml/min/100 g; p < 0.05) than controls.
Conclusion:
These results suggest that portal pressure can be lowered by inducing a hypothyroid state by chronic administration of propylthiouracil.
Related Concept Videos
Portal Hypertension
Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Prostacyclin Receptor Agonists
These agonists bind to the IPR receptor situated on the plasma membrane of the pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells. This binding triggers a cascade of reactions known as the GS-AC-cAMP-PKA pathway. This pathway results in the relaxation of smooth muscle...
Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors and Calcium Channel Blockers
TKIs, such as imatinib (Gleevec), are particularly effective in tackling the growth and mitogenic factors that become upregulated in PAH patients. These factors contribute to the...
