Splanchnic blood flow during stimulation of gastrointestinal growth

The primary objective of this study is to determine whether a relationship exists between the rate of blood flow and the gastrointestinal response to a trophic stimulus. A new prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) derivative, Ro 22-1327, was employed as a growth stimulus. Rats were treated by gavage for 14 days with Ro 22-1327 (0.5 and 5 mg/kg). The vascular and trophic effects of Ro 22-1327 were studied in the gastric antrum and oxyntic gland area, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, colon, liver, and pancreas. Generally, the trophic effects were 1) similar to those reported with other PGE2 analogues, 2) more pronounced in the antrum than in the oxyntic gland area, 3) greatest in the stomach, diminishing toward the colon, and 4) dose dependent. Organ blood flows were largely unaffected by the low-dose treatment, while the high-dose treatment tended to increase blood flow. The changes in blood flow were most pronounced proximally where the trophic responses were maximal. We speculate that the greater trophic response to the high dose of Ro 22-1327 may reduce the vasoconstriction produced by this agent.