β-Adrenergic receptors in the hepatic arterial bed of the anesthetized cat

Abstract

The hepatic arterial blood flow of cats anesthetized with pentobarbital was recorded with an electromagnetic flowmeter. Administration of isoprenaline by close arterial infusion caused a vasodilatation which was blocked after propranolol. Adrenaline caused a variable change but after propranolol it consistently produced vasoconstriction, and after phenoxybenzamine, vasodilatation. One hour after phenoxybenzamine, stimulation of the sympathetic nerves caused a marked vasodilatation which was blocked by propranolol. It is concluded that both α and β adrenergic receptors are present in the hepatic arterial bed. However, β receptor responses may be difficult to elicit if the basal tone of the vascular bed is already reduced by prior procedures.