H1 and H2 receptor antagonists and hepatic oxygen supply-demand relationship in pigs

The hypothesis that histamine receptor (H1 and H2) blockade beneficially affects the hepatic oxygen supply-demand relationship was tested during experiments performed on 13 miniature pigs. Hepatic arterial and portal blood flows were measured with electromagnetic flowmeters. Cardiac output was determined by thermodilution. H1 and H2 receptor blockade was achieved with promethazine, 5 mg.kg-1 and cimetidine 30 mg.kg-1 IV, respectively. The study demonstrated no significant effect of H1 and H2 receptor blockade on hepatic oxygen uptake and no noticeable effects of cimetidine on hepatic circulation. However, promethazine decreased total hepatic blood flow, primarily by decreasing portal blood flow; this resulted in an increase in oxygen extraction as reflected in a decreased oxygen content in hepatic venous blood. The results reject the posed hypothesis: H1 receptor antagonist promethazine decreased, while H2 receptor antagonist cimetidine did not affect hepatic blood flow and oxygen supply; hepatic oxygen demand remained unaffected during H1 and H2 receptor blockade.