Effects of reserpine administration in two models of portal hypertension in rats

The effects of reserpine were investigated in two models of portal hypertension in rats. Twenty-four hours after 1 mg/kg of reserpine was administered intraperitoneally to normal and portal vein stenosed rats, the cardiac index, mean arterial pressure, heart rate, and portal pressure were significantly decreased compared with normal and portal vein stenosed rats receiving placebo. In addition, the portal tributary blood flow was significantly decreased in portal vein stenosed rats receiving reserpine, but was unchanged in normal rats. In cirrhotic rats receiving a single dose of reserpine, 0.1 mg/kg intraperitoneally for 24 h, there were significant decreases in cardiac index, mean arterial pressure and heart rate compared with cirrhotic rats receiving placebo, while the portal pressure and portal tributary blood flow followed a decreasing trend after reserpine administration. The degree of hemodynamic change was similar in the groups of rats receiving reserpine, even though cirrhotic rats received lower doses than either normal or portal vein stenosed rats. This study suggests enhanced sympathetic nervous activity observed in cirrhotic rats.