Changes of hemodynamics and portal vein pressure in the progression of portal hypertension in rats

AIM: To investigate the changes of hemodynamics and portal vein pressure in the progression of portal hypertension (PHT) in rats, so as to establish a study model of PHT hemodynamics. METHODS: Totally 80 healthy male SD rats were assigned to 4 groups (1 control group and 3 model groups). Animal model of cirrhosis was made by subcutaneous injection with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). The hemodynamic indexes and the portal vein pressure were assessed by ultrasonography at week 2, 5, 10 of modeling, and then the pathological changes of the livers were observed by serial slices with HE staining. RESULTS: During the formation of experimental cirrhosis, the hepatocytes of rats suffered from 4 processes including degeneration, necrosis, fibrosis and pseudolobular proliferation. The inner diameter, the blood flow velocity and volume of portal vein significantly raised to (0.185±0.015) cm, (13.30±0.96) cm/s, (12.40±2.95) mL/min, in 2 weeks after CCl4 injection (P0.01). But in 5 and 10 weeks after injection, there were no significant difference from control group, except the blood flow (12.22±1.18) cm/s in 5 weeks. Pressure of portal vein in 2, 5, 10 weeks and congest index of portal vein in 2, 5 weeks were significantly different from the corresponding control group (P0.01 or P0.05). CONCLUSION: During the progression of PHT, there are significant changes of hemodynamics and portal vein pressure since 2nd week after CCl4 injection, and we can get a stable hemodynamics study model in 10th week after injection.