HEMODYNAMIC-EFFECTS OF 8-DAY OCTREOTIDE AND PROPRANOLOL ADMINISTRATION IN PORTAL HYPERTENSIVE RATS

Octreotide and propranolol are both effective portal hypotensive drugs in the control or prevention of variceal bleeding, The present study was undertaken to investigate the hemodynamic effects of octreotide an d propranolol, alone or in combination, in portal hypertensive rats. P ortal hypertension was induced by partial portal vein ligation. Portal hypertensive rats were allocated into one of the four groups: vehicle group (saline, 0.5 ml/day), octreotide group (100 mu g/kg/12 hr), pro pranolol group (30 mg/kg/day), and octreotide (100 mu g/kg/12 hr) plus propranolol (30 mg/kg/day) group. Propranolol or saline was administe red by gavage, octreotide by subcutaneous injection, Drug was given on e day before ligation and continued for eight consecutive days, System ic as well as splanchnic hemodynamic parameters were measured thereaft er. The portal venous pressure, portal tributary blood flow, and cardi ac index were significantly reduced by octreotide, propranolol, or oct reotide plus propranolol in portal hypertensive rats. Portal territory , systemic, and renal vascular resistances were significantly enhanced , while hepatic arterial blood flow significantly reduced, in the octr eotide and octreotide plus propranolol groups as compared to vehicle g roup. Our results showed that eight-day administration of octreotide, propranolol, or octreotide plus propranolol led to portal hypotensive and antihyperdynamic effects in portal hypertensive rats. Overall, oct reotide treatment alone resulted in better antihyperdynamic profiles t han propranolol treatment alone. The combination of octreotide and pro pranolol offered no therapeutic benefits and was slightly less effecti ve than octreotide alone.