Changes in liver blood flow associated with the growth of hepatic LV10 and MC28 sarcomas in rats

Abstract

Abnormalities in liver blood flow are known to occur in patients and animals with overt hepatic tumour. This study investigated the changes in liver blood flow associated with the development of overt hepatic tumour in two different models. Hepatic tumour was induced by intraportal inoculation of either 300 LV10 sarcoma cells or 10(5) MC28 sarcoma cells in rats. Liver blood flow and hepatic haemodynamics were measured 3 weeks later when overt liver tumour was present. The hepatic perfusion index (HPI), the ratio of hepatic arterial to total liver blood flow, was raised and portal venous inflow reduced in rats with LV10 tumours, but not in those with MC28 lesions. Hepatic arterial flow was unchanged in LV10 tumours when the HPI was raised and neither model demonstrated arteriosystemic or portosystemic shunting. The changes in portal venous inflow were associated with a significant increase in portal and splanchnic vascular resistance. These studies suggest that liver blood flow changes in the presence of overt hepatic tumour are not related to portal venous obstruction but may be caused by a circulating splanchnic vasoconstrictor.

Splanchnic blood flow changes in the presence of hepatic tumour: evidence of a humoral mediator

“…An increase in the hepatic perfusion index has been demonstrated in number of experimental liver tumour models, and this has been shown to be due to a reduction in portal venous inflow associated with increased gastrointestinal vascular resistance (Nott et al, 1989;Hemingway et al, 1991;1993). The results of the present experiment suggest that, in the HSN sarcoma model, this is at least partly mediated by a circulating agent.…”

“…Quantitative flowmetry has confirmed that hepatic arterial flow is increased, but has shown that a substantial reduction in portal venous blood flow also contributes to the elevation of the perfusion index (Leen et al, 1991). Experiments in rat liver tumour models have demonstrated a similar rise in the HPI that is due entirely to reduced portal venous inflow secondary to increased splanchnic vascular resistance (Nott et al, 1989;Hemingway et al, 1991;1993). This suggests that the means by which the tumour influences hepatic haemodynamics may not be purely local in nature.…”

An experimental approach of the Doppler perfusion index of the liver in detecting occult hepatic metastases: histological findings related to the hemodynamic measurements in Wistar rats

“…In the literature four different routes have been reported as potential ways to induce, experimentally, liver neoplastic disease: tumour implantation in the liver [9,23,29,30,31,33]; neoplastic cell infusion through the portal route [10,11,12,13,14,34]; liver metastasis development after intracaecal implantation of tumour [35,36]; and chemical liver tumour induction [37].…”

“…The association between liver metastases and altered liver blood flow has been primarily demonstrated by dynamic scintigraphy both in animal experiments [9,14] and in clinical series [8,15,16,17].…”