Peripheral vascular neuroeffector mechanisms in experimental cholestasis

Jaundiced patients have systemic hypotension and are more susceptible to hemorrhagic shock than nonjaundiced individuals. We have hypothesized that the mechanism whereby these cardiovascular complications arise is linked to a disturbance of the vascular neuroeffector process in the cardiovascular system. With the use of 3-day bile duct-manipulated (sham-operated) and bile duct-ligated rats, we have evaluated alpha-adrenoceptor function and amine uptake using in vivo and in vitro techniques. Blunted pressor responsiveness to norepinephrine, electrical stimulation, and the alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonists, methoxamine and phenylephrine, was observed in the bile duct-ligated pithed rats. In contrast, normal responsiveness to BHT-933 and clonidine, the alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonists, was seen in these animals. The uptake 1 blocker, cocaine, caused potentiation of equal magnitudes of the pressor responsiveness to electrical stimulation and norepinephrine in the sham-operated and bile duct-ligated pithed rats. In aortic rings prepared from the bile duct-ligated rats, blunted in vitro vascular reactivity to norepinephrine and the same alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonists was seen. Bile duct ligation had no effect on norepinephrine uptake or its kinetics in stressed and unstressed arterial rings and portal veins. We have thus concluded that bile duct ligation induces a defect in the functional expression of cardiovascular alpha 1-adrenoceptors without any effects on the activity of alpha 2-adrenoceptors or norepinephrine uptake.