Changes of portal hemodynamics in the development of experimental liver cirrhosis

AIM: To understand the formation of portal hypertension through the change of portal hemodynamics on experiment cirrhosis. METHODS: Carbon tetrachloride was subcutaneously injected in the rat. The changes of the portal hemodynamics in the pathological process of liver tissue were observed. RESULTS: The liver underwent degeneration, necrosis of hepatocytes, and the normal architecture of the liver lobules was replaced by pseudolobule, which consist of regenerative hepatocytes and fibrous septa. The diameter, the blood flow velocity and the blood flow quantity of portal were significantly higher than that in former group (P0 05 or P0 01) two weeks after the injection of carbon tetrachloride. In the fifteenth week, these parameters were lower than that before owing to the forming of portacaval collateral circulation (P0 01). The congest index of the portal in second week, fifth week and fifteenth week were statistically higher than its predecessor (P0 05 or P0 01), except that in tenth week, which had no statistical significance (P0 05). CONCLUSION: The changes in hemodynamics of the portal are in accordance with the changes in pathology of liver in the formation of liver cirrhosis.