Different hepatic vascular response to noradrenaline and histamine between guinea-pig and rat

Aim:  Hepatic xenotransplantation from guinea-pig to rat has not been established. This failure is partly ascribed to differences in hepatic vascular characteristics between two species. However, the differences in hepatic vascular resistance distribution and responses to vasoconstrictors are not known. The present study was designed to determine basal levels of segmental vascular resistances and the responses to histamine and noradrenaline in isolated guinea-pig and rat livers. Methods:  The livers were haemoperfused (Hct 8.3%) via the portal vein at a constant flow. The sinusoidal pressure was measured by the double occlusion pressure, and was used to determine the pre- (Rpre) and post-sinusoidal (Rpost) resistances. Results:  There was no significant difference in basal total hepatic vascular resistance (Rt) between two species, whereas Rpre in rat (69% of Rt) was significantly greater than that in guinea-pig (61% of Rt). The responses to noradrenaline were similar; Rpre increased in a greater magnitude than Rpost, and liver weight was reduced. However, the noradrenaline-induced increase in Rt was greater in rats than in guinea-pigs. In contrast, histamine increased predominantly Rpost over Rpre, and increased liver weight in guinea-pig, while it affected no haemodynamic variables in rat. Conclusion:  There exist species differences in the hepatic vasculature between rat and guinea-pig. Basal pre-sinusoidal resistance in rat is greater than that in guinea-pig. Although noradrenaline predominantly contracts pre-sinusoidal vessels in both species, histamine causes predominant post-sinusoidal vasoconstriction in guinea-pig liver, while it has no vasoactive effects on rat liver.