TY - JOUR T1 - THE ROLE OF THE LIVER IN CONTROLLING THE DISTRIBUTION OF BLOOD JF - Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics JO - J Pharmacol Exp Ther SP - 147 LP - 168 VL - 34 IS - 2 AU - ALVAH R. McLAUGHLIN Y1 - 1928/10/01 UR - http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/34/2/147.abstract N2 - A large number of livers of cats, dogs, guinea pigs, and rabbits were perfused through their portal veins with sugar-free Locke's solution to which were added various drugs: epinephrine, barium chloride, pituitary extract, and sodium nitrite. The livers of cats and dogs in every case responded to epinephrine and barium chloride with decreased outflow. Pituitary extract in very dilute concentrations also caused a decreased outflow. Sodium nitrite caused an increased outflow. In practically every case the livers of freshly killed rabbits showed a decreased outflow when perfused with epinephrine, 1:500,000. When the rabbit livers were washed free from blood, stored for some time, even thirty hours, in a cold room, the majority of them responded to epinephrine by a decreased outflow; but a number behaved in a variable manner by giving an increased outflow upon the first few trials, then responding by a decreased outflow. A few of the stored rabbit livers, upon several trials, always gave an increased outflow with epinephrine. An attempt has been made to explain the increased outflow from the stored livers, as due to autolysis with increased hydrogen ion concentration. Likewise the livers of freshly killed rabbits practically always showed decreased outflow with barium chloride and pituitary extract. Here again a few of the stored rabbit livers showed increased outflow with barium chloride. Livers of guinea pigs, when perfused immediately after death, showed decreased outflow with epinephrine and pituitary extract; with barium chloride many livers showed increased outflow upon admission of the drug but this was later followed by decreased outflow. A very few always gave an increased outflow. Livers of cats, dogs, and rabbits were perfused while sealed in an oncometer. When epinephrine and barium chloride were added to the perfusion fluid the graphic records showed decreased liver volume and a reduced outflow. From the results of the studies with the oncometer the writer considers the point of action of epinephrine upon perfused livers to be the intrahepatic portal radicles. Further studies are in progress to determine any substances capable of passing the portal radicles but causing constriction of the central and sublobular radicles of the vena cava. ER -