Effect of Exogenous Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor on Portal Venous Pressure in Rats with Liver Cirrhosis

Objective To study the effect of portal vein administration of vascular endothelial growth factor in rats with liver cirrhosis to find a new therapy for portal hypertension.Method 25 male Sprague-Dawley rats with portal hypertension,weighing 180 to 220 g,were randomly divided into two groups:portal hypertension treatment group(group C,n =15) and portal hypertension control group(group B,n =10).Group C was given recombinant rat vascular endothelial growth factor 165(30 ng/d) via the portal vein for 2 weeks.Group B and normal control group(group A,n =10) underwent abdominal suture after laparotomy.After treatment,portal venous pressure was measured,hepatic histopathology was observed by light microscopy and ultrastructure of hepatic sinusoid was observed by transmission electron microscopy.Results Portal venous pressure in group C was obviously lower than group B(P 0.01).Light microscopy fingdings showed that pathologic fibrotic changes had been improved in group C.Electron microscopy findings showed decreased number of fenestrations in endothelial cells of hepatic sinusoids,basement membrane formation,and irregular hepatic sinusoid endothelial cells in group B.These pathological changes were more severe in group B than group C.Conclusion Vascular endothelial growth factor is capable of lowering portal venous pressure in rats with liver cirrhosis.