[Hepatic hemodynamics after hepatectomy and the effect of administration of glucagon]

The effect of hepatectomy and administration of glucagon on hepatic hemodynamics were studied using mongrel dogs. The results were as follows: 1) Hepatic blood flow in the 70% hepatectomized dogs was significantly less than that in dogs subjected to sham operation or 40% hepatectomy. 2) Bolus injection of glucagon (10 micrograms/kg) increased blood flow in the hepatectomized dogs as well as that in the control dogs. The percentage increment, however, was significantly smaller in the 70% hepatectomized dogs, possibly due to little increase of portal vein blood flow. 3) Portal vein pressure and its resistance were significantly higher in the 70% hepatectomized dogs than in both the 40% hepatectomized dogs and the control dogs. 4) Although pre-sinusoidal resistance showed no significant difference among these three groups, post-sinusoidal resistance increased stepwise in the order of extent of hepatectomy. These results suggest that administration of glucagon after extended major hepatectomy is not so particularly effective in generating adequate hepatic tissue blood flow.