Involvement of splanchnic vascular bed in anaphylactic hypotension in anesthetized BALB/c mice

Using in vivo and isolated perfused liver preparations of BALB/c mice, we determined the roles of the liver and splanchnic vascular bed in anaphylactic hypotension. Intravenous injection of ovalbumin antigen into intact-sensitized mice decreased systemic arterial pressure (P(sa)) from 92 +/- 2 to 39 +/- 3 (SE) mmHg but only slightly increased portal venous pressure (P(pv)) from 6.4 +/- 0.1 cmH(2)O to the peak of 9.9 +/- 0.5 cmH(2)O at 3.5 min after antigen. Elimination of the splanchnic vascular beds by ligation of the celiac and mesenteric arteries, combined with total hepatectomy, attenuated anaphylactic hypotension. Ligation of these arteries alone, but not partial hepatectomy (70%), similarly attenuated anaphylactic hypotension. In contrast, isolated sensitized mouse liver perfused portally at constant flow did not show anaphylactic venoconstriction but, rather, substantial constriction in response to the anaphylaxis-associated platelet-activating factor, indicating that venoconstriction in mice in vivo may be induced by mediators released from extrahepatic tissues. These results suggest that splanchnic vascular beds are involved in BALB/c mouse anaphylactic hypotension. They presumably act as sources of chemical mediators to cause the anaphylaxis-induced portal hypertension, which induced splanchnic congestion, resulting in a decrease in circulating blood volume and, thus, systemic arterial hypotension. Mouse hepatic anaphylactic venoconstriction may be induced by factors outside the liver, but not by anaphylactic reaction within the liver.