Published in:
01-08-2013 | Original Article
Losartan Supports Liver Regrowth via Distinct Boost of Portal Vein Pressure in Rodents with 90 % Portal Branch Ligation
Published in: Digestive Diseases and Sciences | Issue 8/2013
Login to get accessAbstract
Objectives
The study used a model of 90 % portal branch ligation (PBL) in rats to study the effect of losartan on portal vein pressure (PVP) and liver regeneration in rats after PBL.
Methods
A total of 144 male Sprague–Dawley rats were arbitrarily designated into three treatment method groups: a sham operation group (Sham), a PBL treatment group (PBL), and a PBL plus losartan treatment group (PBL + L). Losartan (2 mg/day) was intragastrically gavaged 3 days before the PBL or sham operation to time points of study.
Results
Both the PBL and PBL + L groups showed an intense surge in PVP after PBL treatment, peaking at 12 h postsurgery, then lessening progressively afterwards. PVP was substantially greater in these two groups compared with the Sham group at 6–72 h postsurgery (p < 0.01). Compared with the PBL group, the PBL + L group showed a noticeable reduction in PVP 6–48 h postsurgery (p < 0.05); the PBL group showed considerably raised levels of plasma ALT and AST 6–72 h postsurgery (p < 0.01). Compared to the PBL group, the PBL + L group showed drastically reduced plasma ALT and AST levels 12–72 h postsurgery (p < 0.05).
Conclusions
Losartan supports liver regeneration in 90 % of rats that underwent PBL. The mechanism may be related to losartan’s ability to regulate PVP and increase serum hepatocyte growth factor levels.