Murine study of portal hypertension associated endothelin-1 hypo-response

Figure 2 Partial portal vein ligation induces chronic hyperemia and persistent portal hypertension in wild type and iNOS^-/- mice but not eNOS^-/- mice. Wild type (A, D, G), iNOS^-/- (B, E, H) and eNOS^-/- (C, F, I) mice were subjected to partial portal vein ligation surgery. 0-7 d thereafter-splenic pulp pressure (A-C), aortic blood flow (D-F) and portal systemic shunting (G-I) were determined. A-C: Splenic pulp pressure was increased acutely in all mouse groups following ligation (0-1 d). After which pressure was increased further in wild type and iNOS^-/- but not in eNOS^-/- mice; D, E: Aortic flow was significantly reduced in wild type, iNOS^-/- and eNOS^-/- mice (0-1 d). In wild type and iNOS^-/- mice this low blood flow converted to hyperemia and increased steadily. In eNOS mice flow returned to pre-surgical baseline and was not increased; G-I: Portal systemic shunting increased steadily in wild type and iNOS^-/- mice (G, H). There was a significant delay in the development of collateral circulation in eNOS^-/- mice (I).