Measurement of splanchnic circulation in dogs: changes induced by prostaglandin E1

In seven anesthetized dogs the effects of intravenously administered prostaglandin E1 on mesenteric arterial and portal venous blood flows and pancreatic capillary blood flow were measured with a transit-time ultrasonic volume flowmeter and a laser Doppler flowmeter. Basal blood flow of the superior mesenteric artery and of the portal vein were 5.7 +/- 0.6 and 11.2 +/- 1.0 ml/min/kg, respectively. Prostaglandin E1 caused a dose-dependent increase in these blood flows. The maximal effect was observed at a dose of 1.0 microgram/kg, when the superior mesenteric arterial blood flow increased 117.9 +/- 3.2% and the portal venous blood flow increased 99.4 +/- 1.7%. Prostaglandin E1 produced an initial rapid increase, followed by a decrease in pancreatic capillary blood flow. The results indicate that the flowmeters used in the present study are widely available for the study of splanchnic circulation and may have a possibility for clinical application.