The response of the splanchnic bed of chronically splenectomized dogs to epinephrine and norepinephrine infusion

Abstract

The infusion of 1-epinephrine for 10 minutes induced an increase in splanchnic blood flow with no change in mean arterial blood pressure. During the first half of the infusion the increase in blood flow of the splenectomized group was significantly below the increase noted in normal intact dogs (previous publication). It was suggested that this was due to a lack of splenic contribution to portal flow under the influence of epinephrine. Following the infusion the splenectomized dogs exhibited a marked reduction in blood flow while in intact dogs the flow returned to control values. It was concluded that the increase in resistance which was responsible for the lower flow rate was due to the removal of the splenic bed since the splenic mesenteric systems comprise a parallel circuit. No change in flow was observed during norepinephrine infusion. However, a similar depression in flow to that seen in animals given epinephrine was noted after the infusion was stopped.