Norepinephrine uptake modifications in circumventricular organs, pons and myelencephalic areas and nuclei in prehepatic portal hypertensive rats

Peripheral noradrenergic activity is enhanced in portal hypertension and co rrelates with the progression of the disease. However, little is known abou t the status of central norepinephrine (NE) in portal hypertension. The aim of the present work was to study the uptake of NE in several areas rich in NE in experimental prehepatic portal hypertension. The experiments were pe rformed in vitro in several encephalic areas and nuclei, obtained according to the 'punch-out technique'. Results showed that in portal hypertensive r ats NE uptake enhanced in all areas and nuclei studies (subfornical organ, organum vasculosum lamina terminalis, area postrema, locus coeruleus and nu cleus tractus solitarius). The present results suggest that these encephali c areas and brainstem nuclei may be related to the development and:or maint enance of portal hypertension in this animal model. (C) 1999 Elsevier Scien ce Ltd. All rights reserved.