Histamine or adenosine blockade alters intestinal blood flow autoregulation in swine

The possible role of histamine or adenosine in intestinal blood flow autoregulation in 1-mo-old swine was examined by obtaining pressure-flow relationships before and during intestinal histamine H1- or adenosine-receptor blockade in two groups of fasting animals under anesthesia with pentobarbital sodium (30 mg/kg). Changes in abdominal and thoracic aortic pressures and in superior mesenteric and left renal arterial flows were recorded during controlled aortic compression above the celiac artery. After control intestinal and renal pressure-flow relationships were obtained, a test dose of agonist (0.1 microgram histamine or 0.2 microgram adenosine/kg body wt) was given into the superior mesenteric artery. Then an intra-arterial infusion of blocking agent was started (0.1 mg.kg-1.min-1 chlorpheniramine or 10 mumol/min theophylline). Degree of blockade was assessed with doses of agonist given before and after a second set of intestinal and renal pressure-flow relationships was obtained. Complete blockade of intestinal vascular histamine H1-receptors with chlorpheniramine abolished, and incomplete blockade of adenosine-receptors with theophylline attenuated, intestinal blood flow autoregulation. Renal blood flow autoregulation remained at its control level. These results indicate that both histamine and adenosine are among the physiological vasodilators contributing to intestinal blood flow autoregulation when arterial pressure is decreased in young swine.